Wellington - New Zealand's conservative government is
restoring the traditional titles of Sir and Dame for men and women
honoured by Queen Elizabeth, who remains head of state of the
one-time British colony, Prime Minister John Key announced on Sunday.
The titles were abolished nine years ago by the former Labour
government headed by Helen Clark, who dubbed them 'quaint trappings'
of the independent country's past.
'This is about celebrating success,' Key said, announcing that 85
men and women who have been awarded top ranking honours of the New
Zealand Order of Merit since 2000 will be entitled to call themselves
Sir or Dame.
Key, whose National Party ousted Labour at a general election in
November, said Queen Elizabeth, who approved the Clark government's
recommendation to drop the titles, had given approval for them to be
reinstated.
Traditionally, the government of the day recommends a list of
people to be given honours twice a year - on New Year's Day and in
June to mark the queen's official birthday. The queen formally
approves them.
The Key government's first list will be named on June 1.
The queen's representative in New Zealand, Governor General Anand
Satyanand - the first person to be appointed to the position without
a title - will become Sir Anand as soon as formalities are completed.
Clark said more than once that it was inevitable that New Zealand
would drop the connection with the British monarch and become a
republic at some time in the future but made no move in that
direction during her nine years in power.
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