Queen's Birthday Honours: Recognition caps big week for Umaga

Doug Bond (left) is honoured for his work in community sports, while former All Black captain Tana Umaga was also recognised. Pictures / Mark Mitchell, Reuters

A week after walloping a teammate over the head with a handbag, former All Black captain Tana Umaga has been honoured by the Queen.

Umaga and the chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Jock Hobbs, who led the successful bid for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, feature in today's Queen's Birthday Honours list.

The list announced by the Governor-General, Dame Silvia Cartwright, includes an award for her husband, Peter Cartwright, and scores of lesser-known New Zealanders such as Taihape sports administrator James Bond, known to all as Doug.

The leading awards have gone to author and publisher Christine Cole Catley, Maori art writer and lecturer Sidney Mead, Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson and Auckland businessman Noel Robinson. They become distinguished companions of the NZ Order of Merit, the equivalent of a knighthood in the pre-2000 honours.

The highest award has been given to incoming Governor-General Anand Satyanand, who becomes a principal companion, a rank that goes with the vice-regal role.

Peter Cartwright becomes a companion of the order for public services and services to the community.

Film directors Andrew Adamson, of Narnia fame, and Brad McGann, the man behind In My Father's Den, are made members.

New Zealand's James Bond won his royal honour not for services to espionage but for a lifetime involved in community sports. "I couldn't live up to that name," said the Taihape 81-year-old. "I've always gone by my middle name, Doug."

Mr Bond has organised the Waiouru to Taihape road race for 50 years and been involved in voluntary sports administration for more than 60 years.

He said his Queen's Service Medal was a surprise he was "just about getting used to".

Distinguished companion Mr Robinson is founder and former managing director of Robinson Industries and is also chairman on a number of South Auckland community groups. He was instrumental in the development of the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau City.

Mr Hobbs is made a companion of the NZ Order of Merit with swimming coach Duncan Laing, marine scientist Professor Alick Kibblewhite, biotechnology industry leader Dr James Watson and Justice Colin Nicholson.

Tana Umaga, thespian couple Donald and Elizabeth McRae, fellow actor Ray Henwood, cross-dressing composer Gareth Farr, historian James Belich, Netball NZ president Fay Freeman and Mt Albert Grammar's recently retired headmaster, Greg Taylor, are appointed officers.

Former national women's cricket team captain Maia Lewis and blind cabaret singer and musician Eddie Low are among those honoured as members of the order.