Former Prime Minister Sir Bill English receives a knighthood Government House in Wellington.
Sir Bill English has officially been made a Knight of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
He's among a number of people celebrated at an investiture ceremony at Government House this morning.
Known officially now as Sir Simon William English, he was joined by his wife Mary and other family members who applauded when he received his knighthood.
He may now officially be Sir Simon William English - but he still prefers to be "Bill"
Sir Bill English was joined by his wife Doctor Mary English, parents in law, sister and two youngest son's Bart and Xavier.
He said the honour was a recognition to them and how they had lived a public life for the last 28 years.
"It means so much to the people around you, who have supported me through my public life.
"My wife Mary, my family, the people who supported me from down south where I was the MP for 24 years. All those people I've worked with over the years. Many of whom who have made differences in a way that don't get quite the same recognition."
Sir Bill believed he was also Dipton's first "Sir".
Since leaving politics in March of this year, he said he had been enjoying his time with family and being able to maintain some of his economic and social interests.
He said there would be a family gathering to celebrate tonight with pizza and chips.
When asked if he would be putting any spaghetti on the pizza, he replied "I don't think they'd come."
The former prime minister received a Queen's Birthday Honour for his services to the state.
He was first elected as a member of Parliament in 1990, became the 39th prime minister in 2016 and stepped down from politics earlier this year.
Arise Sir Simon William English.
Sir Bill has said he's happy to be referred to by his first name despite the knighthood.
"You don't do the job for the purpose of getting titles ... it's not that important to actually being motivated about the job," he has said.
Sir Bill English with his wife, Mary, sons Xavier, left, 18, and Bart, 21, his sister Anne Seabrook, left, and parents-in- law Jean and George Scanlon at Government House. Photo / Mark Mitchell
When looking back on his political career, English was proud to be part of the team that guided the nation through the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), but his main praise was for the New Zealand public.
"Really what got New Zealand through the GFC was the way that everyone across the country buckled down ... everyone got better at their jobs and more productive and that's why the country's in pretty good shape now."
