The 1979 Queen's Birthday Honours in New Zealand, celebrating the official birthday of Elizabeth II, were appointments made by the Queen in her right as Queen of New Zealand, 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 16 June 1979.
The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour.
Knight Bachelor
Lewis Edward Harris – of Puketapu. For services to handicapped people and the community. (Mountford) Tosswill Woollaston – of Motueka. For services to art.
Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
Companion (CMG) Lloyd Gilbert Brown – of Wellington. For services to manufacturing and development of energy resources. James Hunter Gemmell – of Auckland. For services to manufacturing and export. George Hamish Ormond Wilson – of Wellington. For services as chairman of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and the board of trustees of the National Art Gallery and Museum.
Royal Victorian Order
Knight Commander (KCVO) The Very Reverend Martin Gloster Sullivan – of Auckland, formerly of London; Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, London, 1967–1977.
Order of the British Empire
Dame Commander (DBE) Civil division Daphne Helen Purves – of Dunedin. For services to the International and New Zealand Federations of University Women.
Knight Commander (KBE) Civil division Arthur Hugh Ward – of Waikanae. For services to the dairy industry and education.
Military division
Air Marshal Richard Bruce Bolt – Chief of Defence Staff.
Commander (CBE) Civil division Margaret Hazel Cotterill – of Plimmerton. For services to the YWCA. John Keith Dobson – of Auckland. For services to business management. Grace Shellie Hollander – of Christchurch. For services to the National Council of Women and the community. Oswald Henry Jackson – of Greymouth. For services to local-body and community affairs. Donald David Rowlands – of Auckland. For services to rowing. Henry Piet Drury Van Asch – of Havelock North. For services to aerial mapping.
Military division
Commodore Roy Herbert Longland Humby – Royal New Zealand Navy.
Officer (OBE) Civil division James Neil Aitken – of Patearoa. For services to hydatid research and eradication. William Stewart Armitage – of Dunedin. For services to the community. Malcolm Cort Astley – of Auckland. For services as a stipendiary magistrate and to the community. Thomas James Atchison – of Ngāruawāhia. For services to riding. Audrey Ngaere Gale – of New Plymouth. For services to the community. Maxwell Ian Hume – of Lower Hutt; lately Deputy Assistant Commissioner, New Zealand Police. Timothy Hurley – of Wanganui. For services to the tourist and travel industry. Dr Norris Roy Jefferson – of Invercargill. For services to paraplegics, sport and medicine. Edward Anthony Kennedy – of Paraparaumu Beach; lately deputy chairman, State Services Commission. Dorothy Pauline McNab – of Balclutha. For services to the community. (James Frank) Edgar Mansfield – of Napier. For services as a bookbinder and sculptor. Maurice Noel Manthel – of Wellington. For services to the community. William Gordon Nolan – of Wairoa. For services to sport and the community. Edward Ronald Prince – of Wanganui. For services to sport and the community. Lieutenant Commander Peter Maxwell Sanders – of Wellington; New Zealand Cadet Forces. Arthur Frederick Thomas – of Auckland. For services to local government. Lawrence David Tinkham – of Wellington. For services to the performing arts. Emeritus Professor John Le Bailly Warren – of Dunedin; lately dean, University of Otago Dental School.
Military division
Commander William Ferguson Jaques – Royal New Zealand Navy. Colonel Ian Hamilton Burrows – Colonels' List, New Zealand Army. Group Captain Arthur Gilbert Tringham – Royal New Zealand Air Force.