The 1972 Queen's Birthday Honours in New Zealand, celebrating the official birthday of Elizabeth II, were appointments made by the Queen on the advice of the New Zealand government to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by New Zealanders. They were announced on 3 June 1972.
The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour.
Knight Bachelor
The Honourable Clifford Parris Richmond – of Wellington; judge of the Court of Appeal. For outstanding services to the law. Reginald Charles Frank Savory – of Auckland. For outstanding services to local government and education.
Order of the Bath
Companion (CB) Military division Lieutenant-General Richard James Holden Webb – Chief of Defence Staff.
Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
Companion (CMG) Lawrence David Hickford – of Taranaki. For very valuable services to local government and the dairy industry. Shapton Donald Sinclair – of Waimea West. For very valuable services as chairman of the New Zealand Apple and Pear Marketing Board.
Order of the British Empire
Knight Commander (KBE) Civil division Malcolm McRae Burns – principal, Lincoln College, Christchurch. For outstanding services to the community.
Commander (CBE) Civil division Harry Heaton Barker – mayor of Gisborne. For very valuable services to local government. John Denis McGrath – of Wellington. For very valuable services to the community. Eric Bruce Mackenzie – of Wellington. For very valuable services as general manager of the New Zealand Electricity Department. Tipi Tainui Ropiha – of Auckland. For very valuable services to the Māori race.
Officer (OBE) Civil division Whitford James Brown. For valuable services as mayor of Porirua. Phyllis Elaine Brusey – of Days Bay. For valuable services to the arts. John Cowie – of Lower Hutt. For valuable services to cricket. Samuel Jamieson – of Wellington. For valuable services as director of the Animal Health Division, Ministry of Agriculture. John Lambert Kerr – of Christchurch. For valuable services to cricket. Ralph McGlashen – of Auckland. For valuable services to education. Amos Robinson McKegg. For valuable services as chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital Board. Juro Tomin Mazuran – of Auckland. For valuable services to the wine making industry. Arthur John Nicoll – of Ashburton. For valuable services to trotting. John Philp – of Invercargill. For valuable services as chairman of the Southland Harbour Board. Alfred Geoffrey Scott – of Wellington; manager of the National Film Unit. John Malfroy Staveley – of Auckland. For valuable services to medicine. Samuel James Thompson – of Levin. For valuable services to the community.
Military division
Captain Samuel Fenwick Mercer – Royal New Zealand Navy. Colonel Russell Williden Kerr Ainge – Colonels' List, Royal New Zealand Military Forces (Regular Force). Group Captain William Robert Duncan – Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Member (MBE) Civil division Alan Searle Alsweiler – of Invercargill. For services to the community. William Albert Edward Archer – of Auckland. For services to the community. George Noble Boulton – of Wanganui. For services to the community. Oswald Astley Cheesman – of Auckland. For services to music. Fletcher Roy Christian – of Auckland. For services to rugby league football. Edward Walton Christiansen – of Auckland. For services to the blind. William Augustus Christiansen – of Whangārei. For services to local government. Jean Clark – of Wellington. For services to the community. Geraldine Dora Davison – of Geraldine. For services to the community. Alfred Gordon Freeman – of Te Awamutu. For services to local government. James Hassall – of Tokoroa. For services to the community. The Reverend Canon Beaumont Harold Pierard – of Hamilton. For services to the community. David Stanley Radcliffe – of Edgecumbe. For services to the community. Hugh Douglas Ramsay – of Dunedin. For services to the community. Donald Russell Robertson – of Havelock North. For services to the community. Muriel Bessie Fullerton-Smith – of Marton. For services to equestrian sport. Bertrand Charles Maurice Spiers – of Murchison. For services to education. Marion Watson Stewart – of Tauranga. For services to the community. Norman Stephen Tankersley – of Masterton. For services to local government.