The King has issued honours awards in the 2025 New Years list. Men received 52% (100) of the 2025 New Year Honours, with women receiving 47% (90) and intersex 1% (1). Men and women equally received the higher awards (ONZ to MNZM). Men received 54% (37) and women 45% (31) and intersex 1% (1) of KSOs and KSMs. There were more awards for arts related activities 11% (21) than sports related ones 8% (16). The last time there were more than 190 honours awarded was New Year 2019, when there were 196 with women receiving 51%.

Sixteen awards were given for services to survivors of abuse in care: 9 KSOs (6 to men, 1 to intersex, 2 to women) and 7 KSMs (5 to men, 2 to women).

Congratulations to all the winners, especially the following who were acknowledged for their contribution to women:

• CNZM
  • Robin SCHOLES, OBE, of Auckland, for services to the screen industry. Robin is a past Board member of Women in Film and Television.
  • Kennie TSUI, of Wellington, for services to the environment and governance. Kennie was appointed as the Deputy President of Engineering New Zealand, the first Asian woman on the Board in its 110-year history.

• ONZM
  • Christine Rewa PANAPA, MNZM, of Auckland, for services to Māori. Christine was President of New Zealand Women’s Rugby League from 1994 to 2013 and Chairperson of Kiwi Ferns Rugby League from 1994 to 2016.

• MNZM
  • Deborah Claire MACKENZIE, of Auckland, for services to victims of domestic violence. Deborah has been advocating for more than 20 years to improve New Zealand's response to violence against women and children. In 2017, she co-founded The Backbone Collective, an independent charity which gathers victim-survivor insights to inform policy and practice.
  • Hilary Dawn SANGSTER, of Ranfurly, for services to governance. Dawn was the third woman ever to be elected to The Alliance Group Board of Directors in 2011, where she served until 2023, inspiring and actively supporting other women to step into governance.
  • Anita Gay VARGA, of Matamata, for services to women and the construction industry. Anita was the first woman to hold the Regional Manager position at Fulton Hogan. She has mentored and guided women into leadership roles and supported leaders to motivate young men and women into the construction industry. Passionate about development, she has encouraged multiple women into tertiary qualifications. She was instrumental in the introduction of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the Tauranga region and introduced specially designed equipment for pregnant individuals. She has been Chair of the National Association of Women in Construction New Zealand since 2022.

• KSM
  • Sandra Lois May CURD, JP, of Ashburton, for services to the community. Sandra has been a member of Rural Women New Zealand (then known as Women’s Division Federated Farmers) since 1981, serving on its Winchmore Branch as a Secretary, Treasurer and President.
  • Patricia Annette MACAULAY, of Mosgiel, for services to the community. Patricia has committed more than 50 years to rural communities, particularly through Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ). She has also been involved with other organisations, including Plunket, Playcentre, the Parent-Teacher Association and Scouts groups.
  • Jyoti PARASHAR, JP, of Auckland, for services to the community. In 2017, Jyoti founded ‘Sakhi’, a support group for women that provides a platform for empowerment and through which she has been supporting women experiencing domestic violence.
  • Teremoana TEREPAI, of Auckland, for services to the Pacific community and seniors. Teremoana is a member of the PACIFICA Tāmaki Branch.
  • Margaret Ann VICKERS, of New Plymouth, for services to the community. Margaret is an advocate for rural women in the Taranaki region. She has been a member of Rural Women New Zealand (previously Women’s Division Federated Farmers) since 1968, serving at various times on the Midhurst Branch’s committee as Secretary and President.

Information about nominating someone for an honour is available on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website. 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.

To read more articles from The Circular (January-February 2025) issue 650, click on the tag below.