Of the recipients, 83 were women and 95 were men. The highest area of contribution was for services to the community, voluntary and local services followed by services to education, health and sports and recreation.
There were six new knights and dames - Susan Hassall, who was the first woman to be appointed headmaster at a boy's state school, became a dame for her services to education along with Professor Elizabeth Rata, a wellknown sociologist at the University of Auckland, who was also awarded for her services to education.
Anaesthetist Dr Paul Baker, former Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier, literacy expert Professor Emeritus James Chapman and Racing Hall of Famer David Ellis were the new knights.
In sport, discus Olympian Beatrice Faumuinā, cricketer Suzie Bates, former rugby player and coach Earle Kirton and former rugby player Vania Wolfgramm were among those being honoured.
In education, former Rangitoto principal Patrick Gale was honoured along with one of New Zealand's longest serving principals Alan McIntyre.
Some well-known Māori academics were also honoured including Dr Reuben Collier, Emeritus Professor Pare Keiha and Dr Te Ripowai Higgins.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the achievements and service of every person on the list helped make the country stronger and a better place.
"Congratulations to all the King's Birthday 2026 Honours recipients. New Zealand is incredibly proud of you and stands alongside each of you in celebration."
The full King's Birthday Honours list
To be Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
Susan Hassall for services to education
Professor Elizabeth Rata for services to education
To be Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
Dr Paul Baker for services to health
Peter Boshier for services to state and judiciary
Professor Emeritus James Chapman for services to literacy education
David Ellis for services to the thoroughbred industry and philanthropy
To be Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
Dr Reuben Collier for services to Māori and education
Professor Caroline Crowther for services to maternal and perinatal health
Dr James Farmer for services to law
Beatrice Faumuinā for services to sports and governance
Professor Emeritus Pare Keiha for services to Māori and education
Riki Manuel for services to Māori art
Bryan Mogridge for services to children's health, governance and philanthropy
Chloe Smith for services to the screen industry
Hilary Souter for services to the advertising industry
Peter Thompson for services to philanthropy and rugby
To be Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
Douglas Alderslade for services to the racing industry
Richard Ashford for services to business particularly the textile craft industry
Associate Professor Nicola Austin for services to children's health
Ronelle Baker for services to children and people living with disabilities
Suzanne Bates for services to cricket and basketball
Dr Ronald Beatson for services to horticulture
Evan Davies for services to business and governance
Margaret Davy for services to nursing and women's health
Karleen Everitt for services to Māori and business
Inspector Ross Grantham for services to New Zealand police
Dr Te Ripowai Higgins for services to education and Māori
Jennifer Hughey for services to community law and governance
Trevor Janes for services to business and public sector governance
Adrienne Jansen for services to writing and publishing
Samuel Johnson for services to community and youth
Dr Michael Johnston for services to education
Rauru Kirikiri for services to Māori, science and conservation
Earle Kirton for services to rugby
Dr Yvonne LeFort for services to breastfeeding medicine
Russell Lowe for services to horticulture and the kiwifruit industry
Geoffrey Maber for services to agribusiness
Gary Macdonald for services to wasterwater engineering
Dr Colin Mantell for services to health education, obstetrics and gynaecology
Susan Nolan for services to drug testing and forensic toxicology
Scott O'Donnell for services to business
Stephen Parker for services to governance and community
Baye Riddell for services to Māori clay art
Rahera Shortland for services to Māori language education
Ann Smaill for services to speech language therapy
Barry Soper for services to journalism
Archna Tandon for services to ethnic communties and women
Hamish Taverner for services to people with learning diabsilities
Murray Thom for services to arts and philanthropy
Sandra Thompson for services to governance, education and children
Dr Leslie Van Gelder for services to conservation and dark sky sanctuaries
Kenneth Williamson for services to governance and community
Sharon Williamson for services to hockey
Rodney Wong for services to business and community
Dr Kenneth Woodford for services to agriculture and agribusiness
To be Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
Professor Emeritus Peter Adams for services to music and music education
Freddie (Lemalu Freddie) Ah Kuoi for services to rugby league and community
Dr Lesley Ansell for services to midwifery
Professor Emeritus Gilbert Barbezat for services to gastroenterology
Barbara Beable for services to athletics
Dr Michael Beable for services to athletics
Wayne Bradshaw for services to senior citizens and the community
Professor Sharon Brownie for services to health and nursing education
Daniel Buckingham for services to people with disabilties and wheelchair rugby
Elizabeth (Irahapeti) Bullmore for services to seniors' health, particularly Māori
Dr Luk Sun Chin for services to health and harness racing
Dr Paul John Davidson for services to documentary filmmaking
Gary Diprose for services to youth
Professor Richard Douglas for services to rhinology
Mervyn English for services to governance and the community
Okesene Faraimo for services to the community, Tokelau language and culture
Mark David Fisher for services to sexual health, particularly people living with HIV
John Flowers for services to the community
Kendall Flutey for services to business and financial literacy
Dr Mark Fraundorfer for services to health, particularly men's health
Patrick Gale for services to education
Sumati Govind for services to governance and the community
Dr Rachael Griffiths-Hughes for services to music
Colin Groves for services to business, philanthropy and sport
Joseph Hollander for services to the construction industry and the community
Michael Kawana for services to Māori and the community
Fane Ketu'u for services to Tongan language education
Lisa Kingi for services to rugby, particularly player welfare
Dr Shuchi Kothari for services to the screen industry
Janice Kuka for services to Māori health
Vicky Lassen for services to netball and Life Saving
Dr Miles Lattimer-Gregory for services to theatre
Elizabeth Lee for services to refugees, migrants and education
Inspector Neru Leifi for services to the New Zealand police and the community
Douglas Macgregor Lind for services to conservation and Search and Rescue
Filomena Loheni for services to Pacific fashion
Associate Professor Chai Hop Low for services to accountancy education
Shirley Mackey for services to swimming
Elizabeth Maire for services to conservation and education
Therse Marr for services to ADHD support and philanthropy
Alison McDonald for services to translation and interpretation services
Alan McIntrye for services to education
Bruce McLachlan for services to education
Group Captain Andrew McWilliam for services to the New Zealand Defence Force
Terence Nicholas for services to Māori and governance
Charles Norrish for services to education
Tofa Robertina O'Halloran for services to education and Niuean community
Esitone (Leota Pauga Esitone) Pauga for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Morris Pita for services to governance, business and Māori
Michele Poole for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Dean Rangihuna for services to Māori mental health and addiction services
Dr Katrina Roberts for services to the dairy industry and the community
David Rogers for services to conservation and Māori
Joan Rosier-Jones for services to writing and education
Deborah Roxburgh for services to Scottish country dancing
Dr Udayangani Samarakkody for services to Paediatric Surgery and the Sri Lankan community
Professor Marc Shaw for services to travel health
Alan Simmons for services to outdoor recreation
Russell Smith for services to sexual violence prevention
John Sparling for services to cricket
Trevor Spittle for services to athletics
Dr Alison Talmage for services to music therapy and seniors
Lorraine Taylor for services to education
Joy Te Wiata for services to sexual violence prevention
Jan Tonkin for services to the business events sector
Denise Torrey for services to education
Kathleen Tuai for services to the Pacific community
Captain Alexander van Wijngaarden for services to the maritime industry
Phillip Waddington for services to conservation and art
Warwick Wilshier for services to the road freight industry
Vania Wolfgramm for services to rugby
To be companions of the King's Service Order:
Paul Davison for servics to public service and the law
Robyn Hunt for services to people with disabilities and the arts
Carolyn Tremain for services to the public service
The King's Service Medal
Agnes Abuel-Guda for services to the Filipino community
Amiria (Honey) Amner for services to sport
Rebecca Amundsen for services to local government, arts and the community
Ravindran (Raveen) Annamalai for services to ethnic communities
Barbara Astill for services to women, the community and governance
Neville Atkinson for services to local government and the community
Ian Blunt for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community
Keith Bone for services to swimming
Susan Breen for services to gifted children education
Amelia Breasanello for services to the community
Karen Burrows for services to sport and the community
Reverend Tapita Ching for services to the Pacific community and education
Rosalind Corban for services to nursing
Grant Craig for services to rail heritage
William Donaldson for services to the construction industry and cricket
Joy Fletcher for services to the community
Edward Ford for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the dairy industry
Mary Gow for services to music
Rangi (Pania) Houkamau-Ngaheu for services to the community
Dianne June for services to wildlife conservation
Selwyn June for services to wildlife conservation
Graeme Kates for services to conservation and the community
Vaitoelau Kumitau for services to the Niuean community
Margaret Manson for services to the community
Brian Marcroft for services to the community
Leigh Martin for services to brass bands
Brent Miller for services to hockey
Marlene Morrison for services to swimming administration
Elizabeth Mortland for services to the community
Johanna (Hanny) Naus for services to seniors and rainbow communities
John Noble for services to residential care
Patricia Noble for services to residential care
Ralph Pitcher for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community
Alison Price for services to music education
Vijeshni Rattan for services to the community
William Rayner for services to seniors and cultural heritage
Norma Roberts for services to early childhood education
Dr Shanthi Selvakumar for services to migrant and refugee communities
Miriam Spragg for services to barbershop singing and music administration
Lynette Tankersley for services to community welfare
Frederick Todd for services to Parliament
Noel Walker for services to Scouts and the community
Susan Walker for services to Scouts and the community
Jonathan Walmisley for services to the Coastguard and Search and Rescue
Kathleen Webb for services to the community
Stephen Westgate for services to the community
Lindsay Wright for services to rural communities and mental health
The New Zealand Antarctic Medal
Professor Alan Hemmings for services to Antarctic law and environmental protection
The New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration
Warrant Officer Class 2 Robert Allan for services to the New Zealand Defence Force
