Honour bound: A study of Royal Honours Systems in New Zealand and the other Commonwealth Realms

Abstract

This thesis is a comparative analysis of the New Zealand Royal Honours System set within an historical context. It examines the institutional development and gradual indigenisation of this system. This thesis provides a broad understanding of the factors that have shaped New Zealand’s Honours system by considering it alongside the Honours systems in the 15 other Commonwealth Realms, with particular emphasis on the development of the Honours systems in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. In doing so, this thesis demonstrates that Honours Systems in these countries have evolved alongside each other, learning from each other’s experiences, and adapting to circumstances as necessary. In many instances they have gradually adopted each other’s best practices as these have become apparent and grown closer to each other over the years.