Readers' Views: Order of New Zealand

The Herald asked readers for their nominations for the three places in New Zealand's most exclusive club. Some of your suggestions are printed below.

The death of the Maori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu, brought the category of "ordinary" members of the Order of New Zealand - limited to 20 people - down to 17. The other two vacancies have existed since last year, when former Labour MP and leading trade unionist Sonja Davies and former Prime Minister David Lange died.


Sir Wilson Whineray is my choice to be awarded the Order of New Zealand for the following reason. I will be 80 next year, but my schooldays and early years were spent in Hamilton when rugby was and still is "king".
Wilson Whineray the great All Black came to Hamilton from Auckland, as far as I can recall. The period in question was in the 40s and 50s. The top rugby clubs at the time - Old Boys, Technical and Marist - all made strenuous efforts to get Wilson to play for them. Wilson Whineray chose to play for City, then the worst club by far - they drank up large and didn't train much - affectionately known as the No Hopers. Sir Wilson was elected captain of City, he lifted them up by their bootstraps and they won the senior championship. To this day it brings tears to my eyes. That is the character and strength of Sir Wilson Whineray - a true New Zealander.
- Gerald Wynne

I think David Russell, shortly to retire from his position as chief executive of the Consumers' Institute, deserves to be made a member of the Order of New Zealand. Throughout his long association with the institute it has continued to develop and expand and has consistently fought for the rights of the consumer and the "small" person. The integrity of Mr Russell personally, and the organisation as a whole, has been a refreshing hallmark in our increasingly devious society. In spite of the growth of the Consumers' Institute, David Russell has not lost the personal touch and a communication to the institute may well result in a personal response from the man himself. I think this would be a well-deserved honour for someone who has worked tirelessly for the good of others and in so doing benefited New Zealand society as a whole.
- Mary Edwards

My three choices are:
* Dame Sian Elias, who has given many years of thought and practice to law, reached the height of being appointed the first female Chief Justice of New Zealand, and continues to work towards the goal of law and order in New Zealand.
* Dame Silvia Cartwright, who similarly has had an impact on the laws of New Zealand, was the first female Chief District Court Judge and has been an excellent representative of New Zealand as the previous Governor-General.
* Stephen Tindall, whose business acumen has been outstanding in creating The Warehouse. His subsequent charitable work for those less well-off than he is has been an outstanding feature of his career.
- Shirley McNeill

Kevin Brady was out of order, according to our Prime Minister, so he will never ever be made a member of the Order of New Zealand as Helen Clark would oppose it, just as we saw recently with the Electricity Commissioner who opposed Government (her) preference.
- Murray Hunter

There is one person who is, I believe, more deserving that any of your "contenders". This man has been a major supporter of intellectually handicapped children, he was perhaps the greatest rugby player of all time and his life has been to many New Zealanders the way we would like to think of ourselves. He is Colin Meads and he is a national treasure.
- Bruce Bell

My choice from your list in the Weekend Herald would be Dame Silvia Cartwright, Dame Sian Elias and Sir Wilson Whineray.
- Janet Hird