Filmmaker Peter Jackson knighted

Helen Clark tops the New Year Honours, being appointed a member of the Order of New Zealand (ONZ) and filmmaker Peter Jackson is made a Knight.

Five firefighters have been recognised with the Queen's Service Medal (QSM) for their roles during or after the explosion and fire at the Tamahere coolstore in Waikato which claimed the life of their colleague and seriously injured seven others.

Five people have been made Knights and one a Dame -- the first new titular honours to be awarded since their abolition under Miss Clark's Labour government in 2000.

Current Prime Minister John Key announced the reinstatement of the titles in March, saying it was about celebrating the success of outstanding New Zealanders.

Miss Clark was the first woman prime minister to reach the office through an election, holding the post for three terms from 1999 to 2008.

In 2006 Miss Clark was named Forbes Magazine's 20th most powerful woman in the world.

After Labour's election loss last year she bowed out of New Zealand politics, taking a new role heading the United Nations Development Programme.

Peter Jackson, Professor Mason Durie, Douglas Myers and Justice Bruce Robertson have been made Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM), and American billionaire Julian Robertson, was made an honorary KNZM. Lesley Max was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DNZM).

Since Sir Peter was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in 2002, the final instalment of his Lord of the Rings trilogy won 11 Academy Awards, he remade King Kong, produced District 9 and has released his latest film The Lovely Bones.

In 2003 he opened Park Road Post Production in Miramar, Wellington, which includes Weta Digital and Weta Workshop, establishing New Zealand as a place where major films projects can be undertaken.

Prof Durie, also previously a CNZM, has been recognised for his service to Maori health and holds a number of positions including secretary of the Maori Congress, a commissioner for the Families Commission, and a board member at Te Papa and the Foundation for Research Science and Technology.

Mr Myers, who now lives in London, is the former chief executive and chairman of Lion Nathan and co-founder of the Business Roundtable.

Justice Robertson was appointed to the High Court in 1987 and has also served in the Court of Appeal and as Acting Chief Justice.

Julian Robertson has invested in New Zealand for more than 15 years, developing the world-class golf courses at Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers and owning the Te Awa and Dry River wineries.

The philanthropist has gifted 15 paintings to the Auckland Art Gallery. The collection includes works by Picasso, Dali, Matisse and Cezanne and has been valued at $200-$250 million.

Dame Lesley was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1994 and has since continued her work supporting children, helping to create organisations mentoring programmes and a national child abuse prevention programme.

Eleven people have been appointed CNZMs, including former auditor-general Kevin Brady, actor George Henare, long-time parliamentary journalist Ian Templeton and Drs Peter Fisher and Frederick Graham who established New Zealand's first IVF programme in 1983.

Famous faces appointed Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit include newsreader Judy Bailey, boxing trainer Kevin Barry, former Fisher and Paykel chief executive John Bongard, Hairy Maclary publisher Elizabeth Mallinson and architect John Sutherland.

Former All Black Ian Jones was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby. He is now a director of North Harbour Rugby, Sport North Harbour and patron of the North Otago Rugby Supporters Club.

The firefighters to be awarded QSMs in the wake of the April 2008 tragedy at Tamahere were Martin Berryman, Roy Breeze, Peter Hallett, Owen Kinsella and Gary Talbot.

In all there were 193 new appointments and awards. Miss Clark joins Jim Bolger and Mike Moore as former prime ministers among the 17 ordinary members of the ONZ. The ordinary membership is restricted to 20 people living at any time.