By Roger Childs

Happy New Year, like an Honour?

“I’ve never been comfortable with titles. It’s not who I am.” –Rugby legend, Richie McCaw

Honours System Fiasco

“Welcome to 2025 — would you like to be a Dame, a Sir or a Member of the British Empire, oops, Commonwealth or something else, for services to … you name it?”

After PM Helen Clark got rid of the system, her successor John Key reintroduced knighthoods back in 2009, obviously anticipating getting one himself once his political game was over.

Whatever the flawed prime minister’s motives, Richie McCaw’s attitude sums ups what probably most New Zealanders feel about titles. Calling people Sir or Dame or whatever, smacks of the British class system which is something many of our forebears were happy to leave behind when they migrated to these shores.

The twice yearly dishing out of so-called honours, known colloquially as gongs, is a farce. There are plenty of examples in the lists of people who are acknowledged for voluntary work and the time they give in community service, but many are “rewarded” for simply doing their job.

Others such as artists, singers and sports people, most recently “Dame” Lydia Ko, get one for achieving personal success on the world stage.

Embarrassing a great New Zealander
Key offered the All Black captain the chance to be Sir Richie after New Zealand narrowly beat France in the World Cup final back in 2011.

McCaw turned it down then and again a year or two later. He did eventually accept an Order of New Zealand (ONZ), however, one senses he did so to get rid of the obsequious and persistent fawning of the now Sir John Key.

New Zealand Honours: a mix of the rich, famous, infamous and ordinary
Many of those who have garnered titles highlights the ridiculous system of awarding honours. The group is a mix of B grade politicians, people who were well paid in high profile jobs and outstanding athletes and artists. Some examples of less than memorable political figures:

• Jonathan Hunt: politician, speaker, high commissioner and Minister of Wine and Cheese.
• Jim Bolger: one of our least impressive prime ministers.
• Mike Moore: politician, very short-lived prime minister and later a less than memorable head of the World Trade Organisation.
• Trevor Mallard. One of the worst ever Speakers of Parliament, but Knighthoods are automatic for them.
• Jacinda Ardern, who allegedly saved the country from covid!

Earning respect
Giving someone a national gong does not automatically bring respect and esteem. Do we value people more because they are Sir Richard, Dame Susan, Lord or Lady someone? We like to think we live in an egalitarian society without an establishment, however, many would
see titles as helping to create an elite.

It becomes ridiculous when the chosen few insist on being called by their title, as Sir Richard Hadlee (pictured) did when he was commentating cricket! It would be like a close friend with a PhD insisting on you calling her or him “Doctor”!

Tennis commentators never called Andy Murray, Sir Andrew, when he played ATP tournaments. However, many of New Zealand’s fawning Legacy Media members seem to love the titles. A couple of Kiwi broadcasters made idiots of themselves calling Britain’s Sarah Storey “Dame Sarah” in the 2021 Paralympic Road Race. She would have been highly embarrassed. Esteem and respect are things which are hard-earned on the basis of effort, service and performance, and the idea that knighthoods and other honours recognise and enhance people’s reputations is ill-founded.

Richie McCaw has huge respect in the country and overseas. There was no need for a knighthood –- a fact he made very clear.

Change the system
It is time for the country to have a serious look at ending the honours system and stop doling out awards to politicians, judges, defence officers, ambassadors and others for merely doing their well-paid jobs. Halls of Fame and community awards are a better way of recognising outstanding achievement and volunteer service.

Here’s an apt rock song from the 1970s: Funeral Empire