By Alex Bourn
A total of 171 New Zealanders have been recognised in the New Year's honours list for their achievements in everything from sport to computer animation.
The highest awards go to those who've been pioneers of their industries, and to a coach who led his team to World Cup victory.
He's been given a knighthood for his services to rugby, but Sir Graham Henry says it's full credit to the boys who won the World Cup.
"I have to wear the mantle but it's other people who have done the job," he says.
Another humble recipient is artist Ralph Hotere. He's been given the highest honour of all and made a Member of the Order of New Zealand.
Only 20 people can be members at any one time, and the list now stands at 18 – including Helen Clark and Dame Kiri te Kanawa.
In another nod to the arts, Suzanne Moncrieff, the founder of the internationally renowned World Of Wearable Art awards, has been made a dame.
Former TV chef and Wellington City Missioner for 18 years Father Des Britten has been awarded a knighthood for his services to the community.
Entrepreneur Diane Foreman - the creator of New Zealand Natural ice-cream - has been made a Companion Of The Order Of Merit for her services to business.
Scientist David Wratt's been given the same honour for his specialist work on climate change. But the Nobel Peace Prize-winner, who shared his win with Al Gore in 2007, didn't think his field would be so controversial.
"There's a lot of politics tied up in it as well, and people who are arguing, so you get a lot of stuff in the paper, which is not what I set out as a scientist to deal with. I was used to talking about science."
The way we watch live sport today is largely thanks to Ian Taylor, who produced revolutionary 3D yachting graphics for the 1991 America's Cup and spawned a computer animation industry in New Zealand.
"I've never invented anything," he says. "I dream up these crazy, crazy dreams, I go into this room and say to a group of people, 'Can we do this?' And the answer is always, 'I don't see why not.'"
And that Kiwi can-do attitude has worked for today's recipients, whether it be in the fields of contemporary art, wearable art or even coaching the All Blacks.
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