There’s been a lot of frothing over the New Year honours.
‘Natwatch’ at The Standard: Sir Lynton Crosby and Dame Paula Rebstock
The British Conservative Government and the New Zealand National Government have both rewarded their friends with titles.
Martyn Bradbury at The Daily Blog: Honours List is dishonourable – TDB Honours list 2015
We need a ‘People’s Honours’ list for those who have challenged the state – not those who have acted for the State.
And John Minto at The Daily Blog: What’s that? – choke, splutter! – Dame Paula Rebstock???
If you choked on your muesli at the news Paula Rebstock has been made a Dame in the government’s New Year’s Honours list then join the club.
Rebstock’s award is confirmation of the highly political nature of our national honours system.
In giving an award to Rebstock John Key is giving the finger to us all.
A look through the main awards shows a vastly disproportionate list of addresses from Remuera and Parnell and other well-to-do suburbs. National is hard at work rewarding its biggest supporters.
It’s curious that there have been no comments on Minto’s post and only two on Bradbury’s.
It may be true that the main party in power tends to favour people on it’s side of the political spectrum with honours.
But what we don’t know is who turns down honours offered to them, we only get to find out about people who are offered honours and accept them.
It may be that people from “from Remuera and Parnell” put more value on status symbols like flash properties and titles so are more likely to be offered them and accept them.
Bradbury lists his own ‘TDB Honours list 2015’ which includes:
- Helen Kelly for services to humanity, cannabis reform, worker rights and being an incredible human being.
I think it would be fair enough for Helen Kelly to get some sort of honours recognition. I don’t know if she was offered anything or not but it wouldn’t surprise to me if she had greater priorities at the moment.
And I wonder if Bradbury, Minto, and others complaining about those who they think were deserving of honours missing out, nominated anyone. That’s how people get to be considered for honours.
Here’s how it works: NOMINATIONS FOR HONOURS
Nominations may be made by any person or persons by completing a nomination form. Nomination forms and information on the honours system are available from the Honours Unit, Members of Parliament and Electorate Offices.