A Kiwi who won his share of medals and titles on the athletics track has added the highest honour in the land to his collection.
Sir Murray Halberg has been made a Member of the Order of New Zealand, a club with strictly limited membership.
He has taken the place of Sir Edmund Hillary, and even inherited his medal.
Sir Halberg is best known for winning the 5000m gold medal at the Rome Olympics, nearly 50 years ago, but today he received the Order of New Zealand.
Membership of the Order is limited to just 20 people at any one time, and Sir Murray has been presented with the medal held by Sir Edmund Hillary, until his death in January.
"It's something that's going into history," says Sir Halberg. "It'll be passed on, it doesn't stay in the family like other awards and medals and so on, so you know, I'm greatly honoured."
Sir Halberg was also recognised for his work with disabled children, but said he felt over-awed at comparisons with the conqueror of Everest.
"To be mentioned in the same interview if you like, the same occasion with Sir Edmund Hillary if you like, well what can you say. I mean, Sir Ed's contribution was worldwide."
So with all the medals and titles, how will he be addressed now?
"Hey you!" suggests Sir Halberg, "or as my family says, 'hey Dad,' or 'Muzz,' or 'silly old bugger, come here.'"
So New Zealand's highest honour has been passed on from one great New Zealander to another, and Sir Hillary could have been speaking about both himself and Sir Halberg, when he said: "People don't decide to become extraordinary, they decide to do extraordinary things."
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