A Queenstown tourism magnate, the co-founder of Sky Television and two Telecom board members are some of the business leaders to receive Queen's Birthday Honours this year.
A total of 14 business men and women have been recognised for their services to business, tourism and the community.
Sir John Davies. Photo: SUPPLIED
Queenstown tourism leader John Davies was knighted for his services to business and tourism.
Sir John, who owns several tourism businesses and was also former Queenstown mayor, has been credited with being the driving force behind increasing visitors to the resort town.
Sir John was mayor in the 1980s and says his proudest moment was when he fought to purchase a green space in the heart of the resort town.
Sky Television co-founder Craig Heatley has been invested with a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and says he feels humbled to receive the award.
he was a founder of Sky TV, one of New Zealand's biggest start-ups in the past 25 years, now with a market capitalisation of $2 billion.
He also set up Rainbow Corporation in the 1980s, with interests in supermarkets, theme parks and property, that later merged with Brierley Investments.
Sir Craig will travel to Monaco this week to compete at the world entrepreneur of the year awards.
Worldwide chief executive of Saatchi and Saatchi, Kevin Roberts, who is also a Telecom director was also made a Companion.
He said his award is an amazing honour from his adopted country for somebody who grew up as a working-class lad in Lancashire and came to New Zealand in 1989.
Wynard Group chairman and Telecom board member, Dr Murray Horn, has also been invested with a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and health.
Mainfreight co-founder Neil Graham has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to business and philanthrophy.
He's been a mentor of at-risk youth and a funder of a child literacy programme, as well as helping finance the rebuilding of businesses affected by the Christchurch earthquakes.
One of the founding directors the Auckland real estate firm, Barfoot & Thompson, Garth Barfoot; and the owner and operator of the Martinborough landmark, Pain & Kershaw, John Kershaw, were both made members of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
