Outgoing Commonwealth head Don McKinnon has been handed the highest award in the New Year's Honours list, the Order of New Zealand. Dame Malvina Major has a New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to opera and Edward Durie has been recognised with a Distinguished Companions of the order for his work for the Maori land Court, Waitangi Tribunal and High Court. Prof David Gluckman has been made a Distinguished Companion of the order for services to medicine. Companions of the Order of Merit include Professor Marilyn Waring, former mayors George Wood (North Shore) Yvonne Sharp (Far North) and Garry Moore (Christchurch). Sportspeople to be recognised included soccer coach Kevin Fallon, horse-trainer James Gibbs, swimmer Alison Fitch, event manager Arthur Klap and woodchopper Clifford Hughes. Officers of the order of Merit include Auckland archaeologist Associate Professor Harry Allen, writer and entertainer David McPhail, fashion designer Annah Stretton.
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