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A rugby coach, a butcher and a movie special-effects creator are among the names at the top of the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
Sir Fred ("The Needle") Allen for services to rugby, Sir Peter ("the Mad Butcher") Leitch for services to business and philanthropy and Sir Richard Taylor (Weta Workshop) for services to film are joined by Sir Bruce Douglas, Sir David Levene, and Sir John Williams as the nation's newest knights, along with Dame June Jackson who has been made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Dame June, of south Auckland, mother of former Alliance MP and broadcaster Willie Jackson, has been honoured for her work with prisoners, urban Maori and the Waitangi Fisheries Commission.
Sir Bruce, who founded Douglas Pharmaceuticals, has been honoured for services to the industry and philanthropy; Sir David, of the paint company fame, for services to business; and Sir John as a judge of the High Court.
Elsewhere on the honours list, former Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons, poet Sam Hunt, businessman and philanthropist Michael Horton and Kathmandu founder Jan Cameron are all made Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
In Dunedin, long-serving principal of Columba College Elizabeth Wilson becomes a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education, and former Dunedin resident Paul Dallimore - now of Christchurch - becomes a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services to the arts.
Brian Benn receives the Queen's Service Medal for services to the New Zealand Police.
Jules Tapper, of Queenstown, becomes an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to aviation and tourism, and John (Jack) McClean, also of Queenstown, a Member of the Order of Merit for services to businessSir Fred Allen was born on February 9, 1920 in Oamaru.
He played 21 matches for the All Blacks at first five-eighth, all as captain, including six tests.
He was part of the successful "Kiwis" Army team which stormed through Britain in 1945-46, but it was as a coach that "The Needle" made his biggest impact.
He was selector-coach of Auckland between 1957 and 1963 when it set a then-Ranfurly Shield record of 25 consecutive matches.
He graduated to All Blacks coach between 1966 and 1968 when they embarked on their 14-test-win run and earned a reputation for open, free-flowing rugby.
"I used to work them [players] pretty hard but that was my way of doing things, and it worked out all right, didn't it? I'm the only coach in the history of All Blacks rugby that was never defeated."
His only regret on receiving the award was that his wife Norma, who died last year, was not able to share it with him.
"Without Norma, I could never have achieved my rugby goals.
Norma deserves this recognition as do some of the great people I worked with in rugby," he said at his home on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, north of Auckland.
Sir Peter Leitch (66) said he was humbled at his award.
"I accept this award for all the little people who have backed me over the years, be it coming into the shop to buy a bit of meat or helping me at charity functions," he said.
"It's an award for the people, to be fair."
Wellington-born Sir Peter said he had to think about whether to accept the honour when he was approached about it.
"When you're a working-class boy from Newtown, a knighthood is pretty special," he said.
Sir Richard Taylor's knighthood comes on top of the five Oscars and four Baftas he has received in recognition for a body of work in the film industry.
Sir Richard won the movie awards for his work with the Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong.
The co-founder and co-director of the Weta Workshop special effects companies in Wellington said his knighthood was "incredibly special".
"It's pretty overwhelming ... at this point in my head."