Dancer steps up for award

Dancer Candy Lane received the QSM for her services to dance. Photo / Richard Robinson

Dancer Candy Lane is thrilled with her Queen's Service Medal (QSM) for services to dance, saying it "meant a lot to the dance community".

The former Dancing with the Stars co-host was among those receiving honours from Governor-General Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae at Auckland's Government House yesterday.

Also honoured were two leading Maori figures.

Noble Thomson 'Toby' Curtis was knighted for his services to Maori education and Kingiareta 'Kingi' Biddle was presented with a QSM for services to Maori and mental health.

After the ceremony, Sir Toby said it had been "an amazing and very new experience".

Receiving his knighthood had given him a new perspective on the Queen's honours roll, he said.

"This kind of recognition, to me, belonged to others then all of a sudden you find yourself as one of those others and you start to think differently."

Vector director Alison Paterson and former squash champion Ross Norman were also among those who received honours yesterday afternoon.

Dame Alison said her honour was recognition that "I've done something with my life".

Mr Norman was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his services to squash.