"It's a shared thing so I guess when you look at it in that context it does make it easier to give consideration to accepting it."
The now retired politician added: "I don't know what it would change for me. It's highly unlikely anything would change for me because essentially all my life I've been a pretty ordinary person who lives a very ordinary life and I don't anticipate any of this will change."
Mr Williams told the Herald that his honour was a complete surprise, and the he felt "very humbled" and "very privileged".
"It was completely unexpected, it came right out of the blue ... it gave me a bit of a lift, I've been ill for some time with cancer, and this gave me a bit of pleasure."
The full New Year's Honours list
Knight Grand Companion
Professor Murray Frederick Brennan, USA, for services to medicine.
Dames Companion
Ellen Adrienne, Lady Stewart, ONZM, QSM, Christchurch, for services to the arts and business
The Honourable Tariana Turia, Wanganui, for services as a member of Parliament.
Knights Companion
Mr Ian Charles Athfield, CNZM, Wellington, for services to architecture.
Mr Paul David Collins, Martinborough, for services to sports governance.
Mr Neville Jordan, CNZM, Lower Hutt, for services to business, science and the community.
Brother Patrick Joseph Lynch, QSO, Wellington, for services to education.
The Honourable Graham Ken Panckhurst, QC, Christchurch, for services to the judiciary.
Mr Donald David Rowlands, CBE, Auckland, for services to business and rowing.
Mr Peter Aldridge Williams, QC, Auckland, for services to the law.
Companions
Mr Paul Hunter Adams, Tauranga, for services to business and philanthropy.
Professor Emeritus John Talbot Boys, Auckland, for services to science.
Mr Robert Laurence Cameron, Wellington, for services to business.
Mr Michael Jonathan Chunn, ONZM, Auckland, for services to music and mental health awareness.
Mr Robin John Cooper, Auckland, for services to Maori health.
Ms Theresa Gattung, Auckland, for services to business and philanthropy.
Dr Martin Douglas Heffernan, Auckland, for services to the electricity industry.
The Honourable Murray Stuart McCully, MP, Wellington, for services to foreign policy.
Mr Christopher John David Moller, Lower Hutt, for services to business and sport.
Mrs Beverley Jean Morris, QSO, Auckland, for services to early childhood education.
The Honourable Anthony Boyd Williams Ryall, Ohope, for services as a member of Parliament.
Emeritus Professor Patrick John Walsh, Wellington, for services to tertiary education.
Officers
Mrs Nona Aston, Gisborne, for services to the community.
Mr Joseph Frank Babich, Auckland, for services to the wine industry.
Ms Robyn Jane Baker, Wellington, for services to education.
Ms Fleur Una Maude Beale, Wellington, for services to literature.
Mr William Leslie John Begg, Timaru, for services to speed skating.
Mrs Annette Elizabeth Black, Wellington, for services to legal education.
Mr Ross Trevor Blanks, Christchurch, for services to animal welfare
Mr James Boult, Queenstown, for services to tourism and the community.
Ms Raelene Castle, Australia, for services to sport and business.
Mr Raymond Noel Cook, Rotorua, for services to tourism and the community.
Mrs Elizabeth Mary Evans, JP, Blenheim, for services to rural women.
Ms Lisa Harrow, USA, for services to the dramatic arts.
Professor Emeritus Gary Leroy Hermansson, Palmerston North, for services to the field of sport psychology.
Mr John Murray Hunn, Wellington, for services to business and philanthropy.
Inspector Anne-Frances Mary Jackson, Wellington, for services to the New Zealand Police and the community.
Mr Bryan Ewart Johnson, Wellington, for services to business and philanthropy.
Mr Richard John Lucas, Christchurch, for services to agriculture.
Mr Edward Colin Manson, Auckland, for services to urban redevelopment.
Mr Gary Bevan Monk, JP, Auckland, for services to the seafood industry and the community
Dr Kevin Moran, Auckland, for services to water safety.
Mrs Susan Marie Paterson, Auckland, for services to corporate governance.
Dr Christopher John Pugsley, Waikanae Beach, for services as a military historian.
Dr Monty Glyn Soutar, Gisborne, for services to Maori and historical research.
Associate Professor Kathryn Mary Stowell, Palmerston North, for services to biomedical science.
Mr Kukupa Tirikatene, Auckland, for services to Maori and education.
Superintendent David Edward Trappitt, Wellington, for services to the New Zealand Police and the community.
Mrs Colleen Elizabeth Urlich, JP, Dargaville, for services to Maori art.
Mrs Janette Lawrence Wills, Matamata, for services to the beef industry.
Dr Sai Woh Wong, Auckland, for services to mental health and the Chinese community.
Members
Mr Bruce Anstey, United Kingdom, for services to motorsport.
Mr Henry Walter Bell, Motueka, for services to the mining industry.
Mr Alan Norman Bickers, JP, Tauranga, for services to the community.
Mr Robert Henry Bickerton, Nelson, for services to music.
Mr Craig Alexander Elliott Brown, JP, Whangarei, for services to the community.
Mr Scott Jonathan Carter, Auckland, for services to sport.
Ms Irene Mavis Cooper, Hamilton, for services to education.
Mr William Robert Day, JP, Wellington, for services to health and the community.
Mr Simon Deng Li, Auckland, for services to New Zealand-China relations and the arts.
Mr Gregory John Dickson, Tauranga, for services to the cargo logistics industry.
Mr John Anthony Fallon, Dunedin, for services to people with mental illnesses.
Ms Geraldine Barbara Glanville, Auckland, for services to the blind community.
Ms Rosemary Gordon, Wellington, for services to legal education.
Reverend Dr Vincent Jonathan Hartfield, Wanganui, for services to health.
Dr Susan Jane Hickey, Auckland, for services to people with disabilities.
Mr Roma Ruruku Hippolite, Australia, for services to Maori and health.
Dr Susan Haas Jacobs, Napier, for services to nursing education.
Dr Elizabeth Anne Limbrick, Auckland, for services to education.
Mrs Phillippa Margaret Mahood, Hamilton, for services to local government and the community.
Ms Victoria Manning, Wellington, for services to the deaf and disabled communities.
Mr Iain Bruce McKay, USA, for services to New Zealand-United States relations.
Ms Avenal Beryl Elizabeth McKinnon, Wellington, for services to the arts.
Professor Jens Helmut Friedrich Mueller, Tauranga, for services to business and education.
Sergeant William John Nicholson, Palmerston North, for services to the New Zealand Police and Search and Rescue.
Mr Emmet Bede O'Sullivan, Ashburton, for services to polo.
Mr Thomas McNeil Pryde, Queenstown, for services to sport and the community.
Ms Penelope Jane Ridings, Wellington, for services to the state.
Mrs Barbara Anne Robson, Feilding, for services to health.
Mrs Joanna Mary Seagar, Oxford, for services to the community.
Ms Janine Laurel Smith, Auckland, for services to corporate governance.
Mr Jonathan Smith, Auckland, for services to people with HIV/Aids.
Ms Susannah Adair Staley, Dunedin, for services to governance.
Mrs Cecilia Sullivan-Grant, Mosgiel, for services to the community.
Mr Ben Penita Taufua, Auckland, for services to the Pacific community.
Mrs Geraldine Barbara Leslie Travers, Hastings, for services to education.
Mr Ivan Robert Vicelich, Auckland, for services to football.
Ms Pele Walker, Wellington, for services to the Pacific community.
Mr Patrick David Willock, JP, Gisborne, for services to agriculture and the community.
Mr Stewart Craig Wilson, Auckland, for services to cricket.
Mr Blair Winton Wingfield, Auckland, for services to health and sport.
Mr Thomas Neil Wolfe, New Plymouth, for services to sport, education and the community.
Mr Stan Carl Wolfgramm, Auckland, for services to the arts and Pacific community.
Honorary Member
Mr Marie Urbain Harold Michel Yow Koon Liu Man Hin, Mauritius, for services to New Zealand-Mauritius relations.
The Queen's Service Order: Companions
Mr Adrian Peter Dance, Roxburgh, for services to Land Search and Rescue.
Judge Anthony David Ford, Wellington, for services to Tonga and the judiciary.
Mr Brian Edward Hayes, Wellington, for services to the land tenure system.
Judge Bernard John Kendall, Auckland, for services to the judiciary.
Mr Harold Valentine Ross Robertson, Drury, for services as a member of Parliament.
Mr Eric Wilbur Roy, JP, Windsor, for services as a Member of Parliament.
Dr Warren Arthur Young, Wellington, for services to the law.
The Queen's Service Medal
Mrs Hazel Askew, Auckland, for services to the community.
Mrs Alison Attwell, Palmerston North, for services to the speech impaired.
Mr Thomas Howard Baker, JP, Kerikeri, for services to the community.
Mr Christopher Barfoot, Auckland, for services to the environment and the community.
Mrs Miriam Alvez Batucan, Auckland, for services to the Filipino community.
Mr Oscar Pioquinto Batucan, JP, Auckland, for services to the Filipino community.
Mrs Heather Flora Bongers, Cambridge, for services to senior citizens.
Mrs Joy Edna May Boniface, Warkworth, for services to the community.
Mr Colin Clive Boyden, Woodville, for services to the community.
Mr Geoffrey John Brann, Te Puke, for services to forestry and the community.
Mrs Gillian Margaret Brann, Te Puke, for services to forestry and the community.
Mr Douglas Maxwell Lovelace Bull, JP, Whakatane, for services to dairy farming and the community.
Ms Aroha Dawn Geraldine Campbell, Rotorua, for services to Maori.
Mr John Gary Clarke, Christchurch, for services to sport and philanthropy.
Mr Edward Laurence Collins, Blenheim, for services to the fishing industry and the community.
Mrs Maria Elizabeth Caroline Collins, Auckland, for services to the community and music.
Mrs Mary Isabel Corbett, JP, Christchurch, for services to the community.
Mrs Leonie Ellen Corry, Leeston, for services to the community.
Mr William Ross Duncan, Wanganui, for services to pipe bands and the community.
Mr Alister David Eade, Stewart Island, for services to the community and aquaculture.
Mrs Helena Wanda Ellis, Auckland, for services to the Polish community.
Reverend Tom Etuata, Wellington, for services to the Pacific community.
Dr Mustafa Mohammed Farouk, Hamilton, for services to the Muslim community.
Mr Raymond Gardner, Fairlie, for services to the New Zealand Fire Service.
Mrs Heather Mackness Gladstone, Christchurch, for services to music.
Mrs Marjory Jean Goldschmidt, Wellsford, for services to the community.
Mr Peter Vaughan Hallagan, Waipukurau, for services to the New Zealand Fire Service.
Mr Colin John Hallett, Te Aroha, for services to Search and Rescue and outdoor recreation.
Mr John Kellick Harding, Taihape, for services to agriculture and aviation.
Mrs Margaret Patricia Hayward, Waikanae, for services to the community.
Ms Christine Joan Hill, Takaka, for services to healthcare.
Mr James Alexander Scott Howard, Marton, for services to conservation and the community.
Mr Wayne Buckston Hurunui, Shannon, for services to the New Zealand Fire Service and the community.
Archdeacon Emeritus Andrew Joseph, Nelson, for services to the community.
Mrs Margaret Rose Knight, Te Awamutu, for services to music and the community.
Mr John Wayland Logan, Gisborne, for services to the community.
Mr Afa'ese Manoa, Auckland, for services to the Pacific community.
Mrs Hinetaina McIlroy, Tolaga Bay, for services to the community.
Mr Devon William McLean, Nelson, for services to conservation.
Mr Teariki Derrick Mei, Wairoa, for services to Maori.
Mrs Alexandra Jocelyn Ann Midgley, Christchurch, for services to the arts and the community.
Ms Toni Ann Millar, JP, Auckland, for services to the community.
Mr Prabodh Kumar Mishra, JP, Lower Hutt, for services to the community.
Mrs Tereapii Moetaua Russell, Upper Hutt, for services to the Pacific community and sport.
Mrs Janet Ruth Morgan, JP, Takaka, for services to healthcare.
Mr Glenn Robert Mottram, JP, Auckland, for services to the community.
Mrs Paddianne Wallace Neely, Wellington, for services as an archivist.
Mr Ian Alexander Noble, Katikati, for services to farming and the community.
Mr Keith Arthur John Norton, Christchurch, for services to the New Zealand Fire Service and Urban Search and Rescue.
Mrs Marie Maude Palmer, JP, Hastings, for services to the community.
Mr Nooareauri Pare, Auckland, for services to Pacific culture and the community.
Mrs Beverly Dawn Patterson, Wellington, for services to the community.
Mr Bruce John Patterson, Wellington, for services to the community.
Mrs Valerie Jean Payne, Auckland, for services to the community.
Ms Hoana Pearson, Auckland, for services to Maori and education.
Mr David Bruce Poppelwell, Auckland, for services to the community.
Mr Raman Ranchhod, JP, Auckland, for services to the Indian community.
Ms Frances Reynolds, Auckland, for services to the state.
Mrs Jean Valentine Rockel, Auckland, for services to early childhood education.
Mrs Berys Marie Ross, Te Puke, for services to the community.
Major Barbara June Sampson, Christchurch, for services to the community.
Mr Neill Campbell Simpson, Queenstown, for services to conservation.
Mr David Neil Sinclair, Ashburton, for services to philanthropy and the community.
Ms Klara Marta Szentirmay, Wellington, for services to the Hungarian community.
Mr To'alepai Lui Tautolo, Auckland, for services to sport and the Samoan community.
Mr Hai Tong Too, JP, Napier (deceased -- this award took effect on November 12, 2014, Her Majesty's approval having been signified before the date of death), for services to the Chinese community.
Mrs Jennifer Anne McKinlay Vanstone, Te Puke, for services to the community.
Mr Bruce Ross Warren, Manukau, for services to the community.
Mrs Shirley Elizabeth Warren, Manukau, for services to the community.
Mr Alan Scott Watson, Auckland, for services as a magician.
Mr Brian Stephen Watters, Morrinsville, for services to the New Zealand Fire Service.
Miss Janice Diane Webb, Auckland, for services to music.
Mr Jeremy Forbes Whimster, Tauranga, for services to music.
Mr Peter Humphrey Willsman, Queenstown, for services to conservation and the community.
Ms Coralie Diane Winn, Christchurch, for services to the arts.
The New Zealand Antarctic Medal
Mr Lewis Vernon Sanson, Wellington, for services to Antarctic science and conservation.
The New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration
Warrant Officer David Tale Hamill, Auckland, for services to the New Zealand Defence Force.
Captain Andrew Ross McKinlay, Wellington, for services to the New Zealand Defence Force.
Serviceman B (name withheld for security reasons), for services to the New Zealand Defence Force.
Major Michael Nochete, Christchurch, for services to the New Zealand Defence Force.
Flight Sergeant Murray John Thomson, Auckland, for services to the New Zealand Defence Force.
The New Zealand Bravery Medal
Mr Daniel James Rockhouse, Australia, for an act of bravery.
