She and her husband, Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, were in New Zealand on an official visit at the time.
Madame Peng subsequently hosted a delegation from Massey in China, including a formal dinner for the group, which included Sir Richard Taylor of Weta Workshop.
"It is hard to underestimate the significance of Madame Peng ... taking time to personally host an event for Massey," Mr Maharey wrote in his email.
The visit resulted in the signing of an agreement where Chinese academics study at Massey, with further agreements likely.
"A visit as significant as this does not come about by chance. It is the result of Massey University's long-time commitment to working in China ... partnerships with many leading universities and Government agencies and a steady programme of reciprocal visits," Mr Maharey wrote.
He paid credit to a number of named staff who had fostered relationships with Chinese counterparts.
"It is this history which led to Massey University being on stage when New Zealand and China signed the Free Trade Agreement [in 2008] and the conferment of the honorary doctorate on Madame Peng.
"It also lies behind the $2 billion announcement last week that Massey animal scientists have been appointed as expert consultants to assist achieving a substantial increase in China's red meat production ... "
The email raised concerns with some university staff and the Tertiary Education Union, whose national president, Dr Sandra Grey, has written about it on the TEU website.
Writing under the title "Massey buys Chinese influence with gift degree", Dr Grey said: "Honorary degrees should recognise a person's contribution to a field of knowledge. To gift them either in reward for or expectation of financial gain is unethical and antithetical to a university's purpose.
"This type of honorary degree does the opposite. It dishonours all those who studied hard for their doctorate."
However, a Massey spokesman said such criticisms absurdly mis-represented what Mr Maharey's email stated.
"The positive outcomes highlighted in the vice-chancellor's message to staff are the result of the long-term commitment and hard work of numerous staff of the university and Chinese institutions, who have been instrumental in building strong and effective partnerships in areas of expertise such as agriculture, food production, business innovation and the creative arts.
"Massey was the first New Zealand university to establish relationships with China. The claims ... are a disappointing attack on the integrity and hard work of Massey University staff."
At the time that Madame Peng was given her doctorate, Massey said it recognised her contribution to performing arts, as well as education and health programmes - she is the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation special envoy for the advancement of girls' and women's education.
In a speech through a translator, Madame Peng said at the time that it was a "tremendous honour".
Steven Joyce, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, said Massey was operationally autonomous under the Education Act.
"It is therefore solely the university's decision as to when they confer honorary qualifications and to whom. The Government does not have any concerns about this doctorate."
Blog comments stir debate
The blog with criticisms from Tertiary Education Union president Sandra Grey has stirred debate.
Comments include those critical of the honorary doctorate, but also a number who are supportive.
One Massey staff member wrote that Ms Grey's comments were "really inappropriate", and Madame Peng was a famous artist long before her husband's rise to power, and had a strong academic background.
"Frankly, Massey did make a smart move. When I visited China before, when I told someone that I worked for Massey University, most of them did not know Massey and some of them even did not know [or did not care about] New Zealand. Now almost everyone knows Massey and New Zealand."
Ms Grey told the Weekend Herald that her criticism was of Massey only, and she was glad a debate had ensued.
"It's about what honorary doctorates are for. Even in a mass-market model of education, which is what we have, they shouldn't be up-for-sale type items."
