More than 60 people have been formally given traditional titles to replace their New Zealand honours at a ceremony in Wellington.
The 66 people had earlier received honours under the de-Anglicised version installed nine years ago by the previous Labour government.
However, the National Government decided to reintroduce the traditional titles and many on Friday took up the offer to be called Sir or Dame.
Included in the ceremony at Old St Paul's Cathedral was one of New Zealand's greatest sportspeople, Olympic champion Peter Snell.
Sir Peter travelled from the United States for the occasion and says the previous honours system meant less to people than traditional titles of Knight and Dame.
Others to attend the ceremony to receive titles were rugby great Sir Colin Meads, opera singer Dame Malvina Major, publisher Dame Christine Cole Catley and former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley.
13 turn down titles
Thirteen people turned down the traditional titles, including author Witi Ihimaera.
Ihimaera told Waatea News he did not take the title of Sir because it would reduce the mana of being a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
He says he accepted his honour in 2004 on the basis it was a New Zealand award.
"I kept on thinking ... (my ancestors) would turn over in their graves if I accepted this, because our valley has always been associated with Te Kooti Rikirangi and his battles against the Crown and so, at a very deep emotional level, there was no way that I was going to take it," he said.
Wellington writer Patricia Grace said while she had been pleased to receive the honour she was not interested in the title.
"I just thought that was harking back to the colonial past when we were moving to something that was truly our own in this country."
A former speaker of Parliament, Margaret Wilson and academic Ranginui Walker were also among those who refused a title.
