Editorial: Public service honoured in all its forms

Roger Kerr. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

It is a good list of national honours that recognises public service in all its forms. Today's Queen's Birthday list creates five new knights and two new dames for services ranging from the well-known philanthropy of Dame Rosie Horton and Sir James Wallace, to the educational and sporting contributions of Sir John Graham and the writing, in Maori, of Dame Katerina Mataira.

The list is no less impressive one rung down the ladder on the New Zealand Order of Merit. New companions of the order include a man New Zealanders scarcely know, Dr Matteo de Nora, who lives in Monaco and, according to his citation, has "almost entirely funded the existence of Emirates Team New Zealand since 2007". He also sponsors neurological research at the University of Auckland.

But perhaps the most deserved honour is Roger Kerr, executive director of the Business Roundtable, being made a CNZM. He has had a greater influence on New Zealand's economic direction over the past 25 years than anybody outside the state service, or possibly within it.

When Mr Kerr left the Treasury to take charge of the Roundtable, he transformed a reclusive club of the corporate elite into a visible, articulate sponsor of economic research and advocacy. Often called a "lobby", the Kerr Roundtable's philosophy and operation are the antithesis of lobbying. The group advocates strict neutrality for governments in the allocation of economic resources and has made its arguments in public with forceful reports, statements, articles or seminars.

It is not necessary to agree with Mr Kerr, always or ever, to acknowledge the rigour and clarity of his advocacy and his unfailing good manners in debate. He publishes analyses of public issues whether governments seem to be listening or not. Usually they are, without letting on.

Among others made companions of the order, John Banks, twice Mayor of Auckland City, was the only local body leader to embrace the Super City enthusiastically. Mark Ford, who headed the Auckland Transition Authority, has been similarly honoured.

Chris Doig, a former chief executive of New Zealand Cricket and also a noted opera singer, has served the country's cultural administration as well as its sport, and Howard Broad, the recently retired Police Commissioner, has been decorated despite the questions remaining about the Urewera "terrorist" raids.

Netball coach Ruth Aitken heads the list of those made officers of the order, which includes Silver Ferns captain Casey Williams, Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori and former captain Stephen Fleming. Vettori is particularly deserving for the weight he has carried in a team without stars.

Education professor John Hattie, who helped to inspire the Government's national standards for primary schools, has been made a member of the NZ Order of Merit despite his subsequent criticism of the policy. Popular music brings an award for Paul Ellis, known as a television talent-quest judge, who organised the entertainment for the splendid Christchurch earthquake memorial service.

Broadcaster John Hawkesby, a host of outdoor concerts in Auckland, is also made a member of the order, as is celebrity columnist David Hartnell, possibly the first in the world to be honoured for gossip.

Altogether, 169 New Zealanders have been acknowledged for their services in fields ranging from the arts to business, medicine, law and community work of many kinds. Most are not well known, and if some of their citations sound modest, they will all have been nominated by colleagues or members of communities they serve, who know what they do and want to honour it.

It is always gratifying there are so many, and probably thousands like them who deserve the nation's thanks.