EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
18 December 2023
John Luke
[FYI request #25014 email]
Ref: OIA-2023/24-0338
Tēnā koe John Luke
Official Information Act request: Rules relating to the acceptance and wearing of
Commonwealth, foreign and international honours by NZ citizens
Thank you for your Official Information Act (the Act) request received on 4 December
2023. You requested:
“I noted,
https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/new-zealand-royal-honours/new-
zealand-royal-honours-system/rules-relating-to-acceptance-and-wearing
Before conferring a Commonwealth or foreign honour on a New Zealand
citizen, the government of the country concerned should submit a proposal
seeking approval through diplomatic channels to the Protocol Division of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which wil pass the request to the
Director of the Honours Unit, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
May I ask during the period of 1st Jan 2021 to now, how many proposal
DPMC has received and are you able to disclose the name of the honor or
award that related to?
How many has been approved and how many has been declined.”
In relation to your request for the number of proposals received from foreign
governments and how many of those proposals were approved and declined, I have
decided to withhold this information under section 6(a) of the Act:
6
Conclusive reasons for withholding official information
Good reason for withholding official information exists, for the purpose of section 5,
if the making available of that information would be likely—
(a)
to prejudice the security or defence of New Zealand or the international
relations of the Government of New Zealand;
Release of the requested information would be likely to prejudice the international
relations of New Zealand in the fol owing ways:
4835876
CABINET OFFICE, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, WELLINGTON 6011, NEW ZEALAND
Telephone: +64 (4) 830 5010. Email: [email address]
www.dpmc.govt.nz
The information received in the proposals is provided to the New Zealand
Government by foreign governments on the understanding it is held in
confidence. There is an established practice that consideration of honours is kept
confidential up to the point of award.
The New Zealand Government must assess the honours proposals from foreign
governments when deciding whether to approve or decline. This assessment,
and the result of it, are in confidence.
Publication of any decision by New Zealand to decline an application for approval
has the potential to harm New Zealand’s relationship with that country. Publishing
would al ow governments to see how their proposals (current and future) fared in
comparison to other countries. Any anomalies, if present, would cause additional
offence.
While this information is being withheld, I am able to release a list of the Commonwealth,
foreign and international honours approved to New Zealand citizens during the requested
dates. Please find this list below.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
We do not intend to publish this response on the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet’s website.
Nāku noa, nā
Rachel Hayward
Clerk of the Executive Council
4835876
CABINET OFFICE, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, WELLINGTON 6011, NEW ZEALAND
Telephone: +64 (4) 830 5010. Email: [email address]
www.dpmc.govt.nz
List of Commonwealth, foreign and international honours approved for New
Zealand citizens from 1 January 2021 to 4 December 2023.
Australia
- Australian Operational Service Medal (Greater Middle
East Operation)
- Australian Antarctic Medal
- Australian National Emergency Medal with clasp
“BUSHFIRES 19-20”
- Australian Sports Medal
- Bravery Medal
- Commendation for Bravery
- Honorary Medal of the Order of Australia
- Medal of the Order of Australia
- Member of the Order of Australia
- Officer of the Order of Australia
- Honorary Member of the Order of Australia
Austria
- Grand Decoration in Gold with Star for Services to the
Republic of Austria
Brunei Darussalam
- Pingat Indah Kerja Baik
- Meritorious Service Medal
Denmark
- Knight of the Order of Dannebrog
Germany
- Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of
Germany
- Member of the Order of Merit
Hungary
- Hungarian Order of Merit - Middle Cross
- Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary
(civilian division)
India
- Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award
Japan
- Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays
- Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette
- Order of the Sacred, Silver Rays
NATO
- NATO Meritorious Service Medal
Netherlands
- Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau (Ridder in de
Orde van Oranje-Nassau)
Poland
- Siberian Exiles Cross
4835876
CABINET OFFICE, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, WELLINGTON 6011, NEW ZEALAND
Telephone: +64 (4) 830 5010. Email: [email address]
www.dpmc.govt.nz
- Medal for Long Marital Life
- Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of
Poland
- Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of
Poland
Solomon Islands
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire
- Member of the Order of the British Empire
- British Empire Medal
South Africa
- Order of Companions of OR Tambo in Silver
(Posthumous)
Timor-Leste
- Medal of Merit
Tonga
- Tongan Police Meritorious Service Medal
United Kingdom
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire
- Member of the Order of the British Empire
- British Empire Medal
United States of
- United States Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer)
America
- United States Meritorious Service Medal
- United States Army Commendation Medal
- United States Defense Meritorious Service Medal
- United States Joint Service Commendation Medal
4835876
CABINET OFFICE, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, WELLINGTON 6011, NEW ZEALAND
Telephone: +64 (4) 830 5010. Email: [email address]
www.dpmc.govt.nz
