Honours for NZ Governor-General

WELLINGTON: Judge Anand Satyanand, the former ombudsman who is set to take over as Governor-General of New Zealand in August, has been made an Additional Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II in her 2006 birthday honours list.

This is the second highest honour in New Zealand’s rankings list and the highest honour for a New Zealander this year.

However, Satyanand, a son of Indo-Fijian parents, sought to underplay this honour, saying, “This new honour is really with a view to being equipped and prepared to undertake the new role as governor-general and it will also enable me to undertake investitures.”