178 people received honours in the King’s Birthday list. Again, as with the 2024 and 2025 King's Birthday lists, men received more awards than women: this year, 53% (95) compared with 47% (83). Another disappointing result for women who received 47% of the honours, again most noticeable in the higher awards where only 43% went to women. See the full list at https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/kings-birthday-honours-list-2026.

As Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said, 'Every New Zealander honoured on this list has helped make our country a stronger, better place.' Congratulations to all the winners, especially those who were acknowledged for their contribution to women. Some to note are:

• ONZM - Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit 
  • Ms Margaret Ruth (Ruth) DAVY, of Auckland, for services to nursing and women’s health. Ms Ruth Davy is a leading figure in women’s heath, nursing and public health leadership, who has worked to reduce inequity and remove barriers to healthcare for women. She led the establishment of New Zealand’s first mobile van service for women’s health, providing free health checks and education in hard-to-reach communities.
  • Ms Karleen Mae EVERITT, of Haruru, for services to Māori and business. She has served as a Director of Global Women New Zealand since 2021. Ms Everitt won the Dame Mira Szászy Alumni Award at the 2024 University of Auckland Aotearoa Māori Business Leaders Awards.
  • Mrs Archna TANDON, JP, of Lincoln, for services to ethnic communities and women. As National President of New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Women Councils from 2016 to 2022, Mrs Tandon developed and led Women’s Wellbeing Framework, an initiative adopted by 24 regional multicultural councils to advance culturally appropriate strategies for empowering multiethnic women. Mrs Tandon chaired Shakti Ethnic Women’s Support Group from 2013 to 2017.

• MNZM - Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit
  • Ms Elizabeth Anne (Anne) LEE, of Auckland, for services to refugees, migrants and education. Ms Lee has been manager of the Umma Trust since 2014, where she provides support for refugee and migrant communities to around 6,000 former refugees annually.
  • Mrs Filomena (Talaleomalie Mena) LOHENI, of Auckland, for services to Pacific fashion. Mrs Loheni is a seamstress and established Mena Designs to help alter garments in Samoa, taking koha in exchange for alterations. Mena Designs has been showcased globally including in Fiji, Japan, Canada, and the United States of America. Many organisations have benefitted from Mena Designs’ support including PACIFICA Women West Auckland, Habitat for Humanity New Zealand, and Aoaga Fa’a Samoa early childhood centre in Auckland.
  • Mr Russell Owen SMITH, of Auckland, and Ms Joy Esther TE WIATA, of Opua. For services to sexual violence prevention. Mr Smith (Ngāti Kahu, Ngāpuhi) and Ms Joy Te Wiata (Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga) are co-founders of Korowai Tūmanako, a Kaupapa Māori specialist sexual violence service operating across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Te Tai Tokerau Northland. Their leadership has driven national advocacy, including the MASSIVE (Men Against Sexual Violence) hīkoi and the Seven7 marathon challenge.
  • Mrs Vania Nive Hannah WOLFGRAMM, of Auckland, for services to rugby. Mrs Wolfgramm played for the Black Ferns XV from 2003 to 2007, the Black Ferns Sevens in 2008 and played 45 games representing Auckland in the Farah Palmer Cup. She has fostered Pacific rugby at a grassroots level with the establishment of the Pacific Aotearoa Cup. Mrs Wolfgramm has been a rugby commentator for Sky Sport, becoming one of the first Pasifika women analysts on New Zealand rugby broadcasting.

• KSO - King's Service Order
  • Ms Robyn Mary HUNT, ONZM, of Wellington, for services to people with disabilities and the arts. As a Human Rights Commissioner from 2002 to 2010, Ms Hunt led a consultation with the disability community that determined disabled people as a priority group in New Zealand’s first ever Human Rights Action Plan. She has provided expertise to Creative New Zealand’s Manga Tipua Deaf and Disabled Leadership Rōpū, the Arts Council, and Arts Access Aotearoa. She has helped develop the Arts Council’s Tapatahi Accessibility Policy and Action Plan 2023-2028. Her involvement with the Arts for All Network since 2010 has supported arts venues to increase accessibility.

• KSM - King's Service Medal
  • Ms Rebecca Rae (Becs) AMUNDSEN, of Invercargill, for services to local government, arts and the community. Ms Amundsen has provided longstanding support for the development of an active arts sector in Southland, through her governance roles with the Dan Davin Foundation Literary Foundation and Arts Murihiku Charitable Trust. Through her involvement with the National Council of Women and KIND Women, she continues to advocate for women’s rights and working towards a more equitable society. She spearheaded the Southland Oral History Project from 2008 to 2017.
  • Mrs Barbara Kay ASTILL, JP, of Auckland, for services to women, the community and governance. Mrs Astill held a range of Board roles in several New Zealand companies including Radio New Zealand, Trust Bank New Zealand, and Counties Manukau Netball. She has been a member of the Zonta Club of East Auckland since 1993, serving multiple terms as President. She has held national governance roles with Zonta New Zealand.
  • Ms Elizabeth Anne MORTLAND, of Taihape, for services to the community. She initiated Te Roopu Wāhine Aroha to assist Māori women to pursue further training. She was a manager of the Taihape Community Development Trust from 2009 to 2018, supporting numerous community projects, including organising Taihape’s annual Gumboot Day. She established the New Zealand Boot Throwing Association. She spent three years as a Volunteer Service Abroad volunteer in Vanuatu helping advance women’s issues.
  • Dr Shanthi SELVAKUMAR, of Auckland, for services to migrant and refugee communities. Dr Shanthi Selvakumar has been a dedicated physician and a strong advocate for migrant women and children affected by domestic violence for more than three decades. Through the Sri Sathya Sai Global Council New Zealand, she leads medical missions across New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, running free clinics and providing essential medication to vulnerable populations. She has committed to extensive community advocacy, volunteering for more than 20 years with Shakti ethnic women’s refuge, becoming its Chairperson in 2019. Dr Selvakumar was awarded a Kiwibank Local Hero Award in 2018 in recognition of her sustained commitment to community service.

Information about nominating someone for an honour is available on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website at https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/new-zealand-royal-honours/make-nomination. Nomination forms are accepted throughout the year, but the processing and consideration of nominations is likely to take at least six months prior to the announcement of an honours list at King's Birthday or New Year.