Former top athlete, entrepreneur recognised in 2026 King’s Birthday Honours

Former top athlete Beatrice Faumuinā, entrepreneur and student advocate Sam Johnson, and former Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier are among those recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.

The twice-yearly royal honours, awarded at King's Birthday and New Year, recognises Kiwis for their significant contributions and service across various fields.

Former discus thrower Beatrice Faumuinā has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (NZOM) for services to sport and governance.

Faumuinā represented New Zealand at four Olympic games, six World Athletics Championships and five Commonwealth games — winning gold in 1998 and 2002, becoming the first Kiwi world champion in the athletics arena.

She was deputy chair of the Trusts Arena from 2021 to 2024, and helped coordinate assistance provided to families evacuated to the arena during the 2023 Auckland anniversary floods.

Across governance, Faumuinā acted as the New Zealand trade commissioner and consul general in New York from 2015 to 2018 and was also a member of the New Zealand and Samoa Trade Investment Commission.

She was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2005 and was inducted to the NZ Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

Former Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has been made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the State and the judiciary.

Boshier served as Chief Ombudsman from 2015 to 2025, responsible for handling complaints about and investigating the administrative conduct of public sector agencies, including official information requests.

Throughout his nine years in the role, Boshier focused on a faster and more effective resolution to the Official Information Act (OIA) and other complaints, and examined the general conditions and treatment of people in prisons across the country.

He previously served as principal judge of the Family Court from 2004 to 2012, and was the president of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts in the US from July 2015 to 2016, the first and only Kiwi to hold the position.

Sam Johnson, a recognised civic entrepreneur and advocate for young people in society, has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community and youth.

Johnson mobilised more than 11,000 students in response to the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes and founded the Student Volunteer Army, which grew into a national volunteer centre operating in 258 secondary schools, six universities and in Tasmania and South Australia.

As the organisation's chief executive, he led more than 20 domestic disaster response efforts including the mobilisation of volunteers nationwide during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many other notable Kiwis were recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday honours for their work across a number of fields:

Peter Thompson has been made Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to philanthropy and rugby.

The managing director of Barfoot and Thompson has led long-term sponsorship of Starship Foundation, helping raise more than $6 million for the foundation since 2003. He has been Chairman of the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame since 2017 and is a life member of many sports organisations.

Speaking to 1News, Thompson said he was "very humbled" to receive the acknowledgement.

"It was such a delight to receive the letter. Words don't really describe it," he said.

"When you see the people that have received them in the past and think that you may be in the same category, it truly is a wonderful feeling."

Scott O’Donnell has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business. The Invercargill-based businessman and philanthropist has supported the city’s development for over 30 years, currently serving as director of petroleum company director of HW Richardson Group (HWR).

Suzannah ‘Suzie’ Bates (Ngāi Tahu) has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to cricket and basketball. Debuting for the White Ferns in 2006, Bates captained the team from 2011 to 2018 and was the first player to reach 1000 T20 World Cup runs in 2023. She became the most-capped woman in international cricket during 2024/2025.

Earle Kirton has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby. Kirton played 49 games for the All Blacks, including 13 Tests, before becoming assistant and back coach from 1992 to 1995. He has served as a player, selector, coach, administrator and mentor in the sport for more than 60 years.

Chloe Smith has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the screen industry as a leading film and television producer and line producer. She has been involved in 47 major projects across her 43-year career, including Academy Award winning films The PIano (1993) and The Power Of The Dog (2021).

Smith said she was "very touched" to have been put forward to the NZOM.

"You're proposed by people who know you so there's an enormous respect in that," she told 1News.

Riki Manuel (Ngāti Porou) has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori art. He began his career as a carver at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, Rotorua, before opening his gallery Toi Mana Maori Gallery in 1984. He was a founding member of Te Uhi ā Mataora, a national collective of Taa Moko artists established in 2000.

Barry Soper has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to journalism. Soper, a long-serving political journalist and commentator, reported as part of the Parliamentary Press Gallery for 43 years. He has been named Journalist of the Year at the New Zealand Radio Awards numerous times.

Rahera Shortland (Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Tawake, Ngāti Hao) has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori language education. Shortland helped establish the Te Ātaarangi Educational Trust, which has been at the forefront of Māori language revitalisation. She was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2016 for services to Māori, education and television over five decades.

Inspector Ross Grantham has been made an Officer of the New Order of Merit for services to the New Zealand Police. Grantham joined the New Zealand Police in 1979 and has held various roles in Wellington and Manawatu, most recently serving as Manawatu Area Commander from 2023 until retiring in 2026.

Susan Hassall, former Headmaster of Hamilton Boys’ High School from 1999 to 2024, has been made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education. She was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2021.

Professor Elizabeth Rata, sociologist of education specialising in research on ethnic politics and curriculum knowledge in New Zealand, has been made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education.

Dr Paul Baker, a foundation consultant anaesthetist at Starship Children’s Hospital and New Zealand’s leading authority on airway management, has been made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to health.

Professor Emeritus James Chapman, a pioneer in research of learning disabilities and dyslexia, has been made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to literacy education.

David Ellis, Principal of Te Akau Stud and Racing Stables in New Zealand, has been made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the thoroughbred industry and philanthropy. He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2020.