New Year Honours: Leading businesswomen among 11 new Companions

Two prominent businesswomen, Barbara Chapman and Carmel Fisher, are among the 11 new Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Others include an actress, law academic, health professionals, social worker, military leader, Olympic athlete and Maori carver.

Ms Chapman was chief executive of ASB from 2011 until stepping down earlier this year. In that role she promoted diversity, assistance to community groups affected by the Christchurch earthquakes and cultural festivals. She was chairwoman of the Equal Employment Opportunities Trust from 1995-2001 and Oxfam New Zealand from 1999-2002.

Ms Fisher founded her managed funds business in 1998 and has been involved in the investment market for 30 years. He funds business expanded rapidly and with $8 billion under management is fifth largest after those run by the four major trading banks. She is a director of listed investment companies Kingfish, Barramundi and Marlin Global.

Professor Margaret Bedggood has been chief commissioner of the Human Rights Commission, chairwoman of the Human Rights Foundation (2001-08) and dean of the University of Waikato School of Law (1994-95). Previous honour: Companion of the Queen's Service Order (1993).

Professor Peter Crampton has been pro-vice chancellor in health sciences at the University of Otago since 2011. He is recognised as a national leader in health education and as a champion for social justice and reducing inequalities. He co-developed the New Zealand Deprivation Index over 22 years.

Lieutenant General Tim Keating (Rtd)was chief of the New Zealand Defence Force from 2014-18, overseeing its role in World War I/Galipoli centenary commemorations programme as well as the training of Iraqi military personnel. Previous honour: Member NZOM (2008).

Major Campbell Roberts has been an officer in the Salvation Army since 1970 and is best known as the head of its social policy and parliamentary unit (2004-15) lobbying for affordable housing and other welfare issues at the national level. 

Jennifer Ward-Lealand has worked extensively in theatre, film and television for more than 35 years. She has been president of Equity New Zealand, which represents actors, since 2007. Her most recent film role was the lead in Vermilion (2018). Previous honour: Officer of the NZOM (2007).

Barbara Kendall is the only New Zealand woman to have competed in five Olympic Games, winning medals in boardsailing in 1992, 1996 and 2000.Previous honour: Member of the Order of the British Empire (1993) and the NZ 1990 Commemoration Medal. She continues to be active in the Olympic movement at a national and international level.

Other new Companions are Christchurch health advocate and surgeon Phil Bagshaw; Kapiti carver and bone artist Owen Mapp; national president of Plunket Society (2014-17) Andrés Talbot .