Queen's Birthday Honours: Anand Satyanand

Judge Anand Satyanand has been given the first trappings of his new office of Governor-General - appointment as a Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

The principal companionship is the equivalent of a Knight Grand Companion. Previous Governors-General would have received a knighthood, but as a result of NZ's dropping royal-honour titles in 2000, Judge Satyanand will instead be known as His Excellency.

Like Distinguished Companions of the order, Judge Satyanand will wear a cross badge in white enamel set in a silver-gilt medallion with the New Zealand Coat of Arms and Royal Crown on it. However, as a Principal Companion his badge is worn from a sash over the right shoulder rather than from a neck ribbon or bow.

As Governor-General, Judge Satyanand will also be Chancellor of the New Zealand Order of Merit, in which role he will wear a collar of office. Only the Governor-General and the Sovereign can wear the collar - a chain composed of links of the central medallion of the badge and gold koru in the form of the letter S.

Judge Satyanand, who is currently overseas, will take over from Dame Silvia Cartwright on August 4.