KEY POINTS:
Controversial theologian Lloyd Geering was among 22 New Zealanders honoured at Government House this morning.
Governor General Anand Satyanand presided over the investiture ceremony, presenting each recipient with their insignia.
He described those being honoured as role models who inspired more New Zealanders to achieve.
"In this room is a concentration of all the best qualities," he said.
Professor Geering received New Zealand's highest honour - the Order of New Zealand.
Membership of the ONZ is limited to 20 living New Zealanders.
"It's very exciting and very satisfying, but I'm embarrassed, I don't feel I deserve anything like this," he told NZPA.
Forty years ago the well known columnist, writer, broadcaster and commentator was charged with heresy after several of his articles caused public outrage.
In his work The Resurrection of Jesus he questioned the physical resurrection of Jesus.
A year later, he published The Immortality of the Soul, in which he refused to accept that the human soul was immortal.
After a dramatic two-day televised trial, before the Presbyterian General Assembly, the charges were dismissed.
"I felt that what Christianity had to offer in a rapidly changing world needed to be thought through afresh," he said today.
Also being honoured at this morning's ceremony was Professor David Gerrard of Dunedin, who received the insignia of the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sports medicine.
Prof Gerrard described the experience as surreal.
"One feels very humble, sports medicine has really come of age and I feel proud to be part of that."
H e credits his success to a "the privileged relationship" between his academic and sporting career.
The former champion swimmer is the associate dean of the School of Medicine at Otago University, and acts as a mentor for young doctors.
"In times like these your life flashes before you and you try to pick one element but my whole life has been pleasurable and fulfilling.
"I feel very humbled by the presence of the others (honorees), as a nation we punch above our weight," he said.
- NZPA
