A Claytons honour system

Clive Bibby

Opinion

I have just finished reading the full list of this country’s New Year Honours recipients — you know, the system that was originally introduced to recognise those civilian role models who had, like the “Biblical widow”, given of themselves beyond the call of duty. Sadly, that isn’t how it works these days. 

During times of war, the awarding of medals is based more on acts of gallantry, with the highest honours going to those who acted with selfless disregard for their own safety — more often than not saving lives while, in the process, sometimes forfeiting their own.

Both parallel systems were designed to include those who would otherwise have never been acknowledged for their service, let alone their gallantry under extreme pressure.

In their original forms, both had a hierarchical structure where the most meritorious deeds were recognised with the highest awards — the military’s highest award for bravery being the Victoria Cross, which is only awarded on very rare occasions and often posthumously to those who made the supreme sacrifice.

On the other hand, the civilian awards were originally given to those who had made sacrifices of their own in order to achieve the highest level of achievement, eg, the sports knights and dames like Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir Richard Hadlee, Dame Lisa Carrington and Dame Valerie Adams.

However, apart from the sports section, the civilian system has ceased to be one that honours citizens based solely on meritorious performance.

Unfortunately, it has morphed into one where, too often, the recipients of the highest honours are those who just happen to share the political persuasion of the government of the day.

It is time for an overhaul and a return to a system that acknowledges only those who have served the nation well under exceptional circumstances that required effort far beyond the call of duty — not in return for an above-average salary that went with the job.

It has become part of the gravy train when we see long-serving MPs like Trevor Mallard and Jonathan Hunt, who were both dispatched to ambassador posts well away from the Parliament where they had underperformed.

In my humble opinion, the committee overseeing the honours system in this country should be made up of retired members of the judiciary.

It needs to be taken away from the partisan oversight of Cabinet who wouldn’t recognise real community effort if they fell over it.

Perhaps only then will we start to see a lot less of the highest gongs going to “Captains of Industry” — who just happened to be major donors to political parties of their choice — and more recognition at the highest level for those who have unselfishly dedicated their lives to benefiting those who are at the bottom of the heap.

If we did that, l might be pleased to find my dear wife’s name amongst the recipients in the next King’s Birthday honours list.

I reckon anyone who has put up with me for 55 years deserves a medal. Most people who know us both would agree.