Proud day for Sir Mad Butcher

Sir Anand Satyanand invests Sir Peter Leitch as a Knight Companion of the NZ Order of Merit at Government House. Photo / Supplied

The Mad Butcher received his new moniker yesterday - officially becoming Sir Peter Leitch at a ceremony in Auckland.

Sir Peter was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to business and philanthropy.

During the investiture ceremony at Government House in Epsom, family members watched as he knelt to receive the honour from Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand.

A rugby league fanatic and the Warriors' biggest supporter, Sir Peter swapped his signature team jersey for a crisp shirt, blazer and tie, draped with a traditional Maori cloak.

But the big smile was still there.

"This award is for the ordinary people," he said. "I couldn't have done anything without people coming to buy my meat."

The Bucklands Beach resident is well known for starting his Mad Butcher chain of meat retailing outlets, but is also admired for his services to the community.

These include working with the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Allergy New Zealand, Diabetes Auckland and Macular Degeneration New Zealand, as well as being arguably the most colourful and loudest standard-bearer for the Vodafone Warriors.

Asked how his parents would have felt if they had been here to see his big achievement yesterday, his eyes welled up with tears before he told One News: "They'd be very proud, mate. They'd be very proud."

Sir Peter was among 15 people honoured at yesterday's ceremony.

Another famous Kiwi in the limelight at Government House was poet Sam Hunt, who was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to poetry.

The pair chatted, hugged and posed briefly for photos after the ceremony before Sir Peter was whisked away for a special party at Ellerslie Racecourse put on by family, friends and associates to celebrate his big day and to pay tribute to their mate.

Among the dozens present were the All Blacks coach, Graham Henry, Warriors coach Ivan Cleary and former Warriors and New Zealand star Logan Swann.