Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

How to nominate yourself for N.Z. award

By

DOUGLAS McKENZIE

“Contrary to popular belief there is really no mystery about the procedure for nomination for an honour. It is simply: anyone may nominate anyone for an honour.” This remark i made in the publication, “Honours, Titles, Styles, and Precedence in New Zealand,” compiled by the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister’s Department. Nominations must come from the community before any recommendations can be made to the Sovereign. The Prime Minister submits to the Queen, through the Governor-Gen-eral; the names of all persons to receive honours. AU nominees are asked, in confidence (this does not apply to the armed ser-

vices or the police) whether the proposed honour is acceptable or not — and it may be refused. Refusal may be for any number of reasons, including disagreement with the honours system as such, or a belief that the proposed honour is not high enough. The Governor-General, under delegated authority from The Queen, may approve awards . of the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct and Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air. Honours and awards for meritorious service are awarded in three regular lists: civil, police, and military, announced at the New Year and on the Sovereign’s birthday and in

special lists as required. Gallantry and bravery awards are usually announced outside the regular lists. From the time of the public announcement of any awards, those persons honoured may wear the appropriate miniature insignia of the award; and in the case of knights, use

the appellation “Sir.” Chivalry and order have statutory limits and only a certain number of appointments may be made in any one year. In the case of the more senior grades there is a fixed limit of living members, -and appointments can only be

made when a vacancy arises through death. All matters relating to honours and awards are administered by the Cabinet Office. Nominations may be made by any person writing direct to the Prime Minister or through someone in an official position. The processing of nom-

inations takes from five to 11 months, the department says. Nominations for a birthday list would have to reach the Prime Minister by February 1; and for a New Year list by September 1. Detailed information is required about the nom-

inee. It is not quite enough to say “I think my old friend, John Doe, of . . ~ should have the M.B.E. because he has always been nice to his mum.” The formal requirements are that the nomination gives the prospective recipient’s full name, full residential address, date of birth or age, and citizenship. Details have to be given of any honours already held, academic or professional qualifications, and the activities and achievements for which recognition is sought. The nomination can also be backed by testimonials from others. The Prime Minister’s Department says that the type or level of the

honour should not be stated, although it was sometimes helpful to draw attention to awards made for services similar to those of the person being nominated. It is not necessary to have the consent of the person being nominated. If the nomination is successful the nominee will be formally sounded by the Governor-General to discover whether the proposed honour is acceptable or not. It is said that the procedure of a formal sounding to establish acceptance was begun only after the Roger David Casement affair, where the recipient of a knighthood which was bestowed without prior

knowledge said that if he had known the intention he would have declined the honour. Sir Roger Casement was knighted in 1911 for outstanding work in the British consular service. He was degraded in 1916 when, as an Irish nationalist, he was tried for treason and hanged. Once a name has been considered, but not included, in a list it does not automatically go forward for consideration in a subsequent list unless renomination or a new nomination from another source is received, (It can be assumedtherefbre that a nomination lapses if not recognised in an honours list within 12 months.)

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19801231.2.83

Bibliographic details

Press, 31 December 1980, Page 13

Word Count
675

How to nominate yourself for N.Z. award Press, 31 December 1980, Page 13

How to nominate yourself for N.Z. award Press, 31 December 1980, Page 13

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert