Former New Zealand prime minister John Key and rugby great Michael Jones were honoured with knighthoods on Monday.
Key, who led New Zealand for eight years before stepping down last December, has been made a Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and becomes Sir John in the country’s Queen’s Birthday honours list.
Michael Jones, who played 55 Tests for the All Blacks, becomes a Knight Companion for his work with Pacific and Maori youth since his retirement from rugby.
The citation for Key said the 55-year-old has been honoured for services to the state, marking his leadership during the 2011 earthquakes which devastated the city of Christchurch and the country’s response to the global financial crisis.
The citation also makes mention of his role in developing a national cycleway project, which amused Key who believed he would be “the only person in the world that’s got a knighthood for a cycleway.”
The personable Key, known for his laid-back style, is not fussed about people calling him “Sir John” although the title comes with the honour.
“I suspect they’ll stick with John. I’ll be more than happy with that,” he told the New Zealand Herald.
Jones, who scored the first try in the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, received his knighthood for services to the Pacific Islands community and to youth.
During his playing days he was known as “the Iceman” for the number of icepacks he needed for injuries.
Since his retirement, he has devoted himself to working with Pacific and Maori youth.
“It’s what I’ve been most called to do,” Jones told Fairfax Media.
“I’m thankful to have the opportunities to work with Pacific people as a Kiwi-Pacific person, particularly with youth. This is a wonderful honour and it reaffirms that work is important to society.”
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