Gay author Witi Ihimaera is amongst those who have rejected taking up the title of "Sir" following the government's reintroduction of traditional titular honours. Ihimaera will remain a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, the highest honour available since the abandonment of titular honours in 2000. He is understood to have accepted his honour on the basis that it was a purely New Zealand honour and not linked into the Imperial British system, and does not want to be called "Sir." Meanwhile, a woman with strong connections to the gay men's and feminist communities has opted to accept the government's offer to be titled Dame. Deirdre Milne has long been influential in feminist circles, was a founding partner of the gay-oriented Auckland law firm Milne Ireland Walker (now LawWorks) and is a past chair of the NZ AIDS Foundation. Having been a Distinguished Companion of the NZ Order of Merit (DCNZM) on December 31, 2003, she is now redesignated as Dame Companion of the Order (DNZM).
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 1st August 2009 - 9:55pm