Editorial: True reflection of breadth of talent

It is a plus for the New Year's honours list that it has become an increasingly accurate reflection of individual New Zealanders' outstanding contribution to their local communities, their country and even the world. Timeliness is acknowledged - there is far less waiting for years for deeds to be recognised. And there is less emphasis on rank and office; honours are granted for merit and achievement. Also, they are awarded across the spectrum, thus recognising the role different interests play in creating a complete community.

On that basis, it is appropriate that Professor Alan McDiarmid has been awarded the country's highest honour, the Order of New Zealand. A year ago, he jointly won the Nobel Prize in chemistry. As a scientist wishing to work in the most challenging and rewarding research environment, he has followed the likes of Rutherford and Pickering in spending much of his life abroad. And in helping to discover electricity-conducting plastics, his contribution has been to the international community. He rightly joins an elite group of 20 members of the order.

A knowledge economy, if realised, would encourage the likes of Professor McDiarmid to work at home. The brain drain would be reversed. Already there are glimmerings of that sentiment in the arts, a sector which, quite aptly, features heavily in this New Year's honours list.

Reversing the brain drain in film-making may be easier than in rocket science, but the likes of director Peter Jackson have a clear commitment to New Zealand. He showed as much three years ago when he bought the National Film Unit. Effectively, Jackson was indicating that he was intent on bringing Hollywood to New Zealand, not following the likes of Donaldson and Tamahori to work in California. Now, with the first instalment of his Lord of the Rings trilogy drawing critical acclaim, Jackson becomes, with exquisite timing, a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Recognition of the flowering of the arts does not end there. Author Lynley Dodd has been made a distinguished companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. So popular are her books about Hairy Maclary that they seem to spring to the mind of every child who spies a shaggy black terrier.

Film-maker Gaylene Preston and author Jean Watson have been made officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit. And arts supporter Michael Hill, whose biennial world violin competition has attracted top artists here, becomes a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. His award is, equally, for his services to business. While others have stumbled and fallen across the Tasman, Michael Hill Jeweller has proved that New Zealand business, armed with sensible strategies, can foot it with the best in Australia.

Likewise, Gilbert Ullrich fully deserves to be an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. As a businessman, he has succeeded in difficult times, often showing a willingness to think outside convention.

If there is a regret about the list, it must be that the conferring of knighthoods on men and women has been abolished. The death of Sir Peter Blake reminds us of the cachet that such a title delivers when truly earned.

Being named a distinguished companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit is supposedly the equivalent of a knighthood. But whatever the thinking that such a title is more in step with our egalitarian values, it undoubtedly carries less prestige. The gap becomes particularly glaring when Peter Snell, this country's greatest athlete and a man richly deserving of a knighthood, is made a distinguished companion.

Such arguments are irrelevant to most of those named in this New Year's honours list. These are the many recognised with the Queen's Service Order or the Queen's Service Medal for public or community service. They make up the nuts and bolts of the list, rewarded for valuable, dedicated and selfless work for others. They also represent the good and decent side of society.

Their inclusion not only completes the spectrum, it helps to ensure the honours list remains credible.