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The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of chivalry established on 30 May 1996 by Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in order of seniority:
It was established "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits." The Order replaces the Order Of The Bath , Order Of St Michael And St George , Order Of The British Empire , Order Of The Companions Of Honour as well as the distinction of Knight Bachelor as a result of the reorganisation of the New Zealand Honours System in 1996. The award of Principal Companion (aka Knight Grand Companion) has taken the place of Knight Grand Cross Of The Order Of St Michael And St George customarily awarded to Governors-General Of New Zealand , starting with the Present Governor-General (since 2001). The Order's motto is ''For Merit/Tohu Hiranga''. CONTROVERSY Until of the ACT New Zealand party deriding the PCNZM's initials as standing for 'a Politically Correct New Zealand that used to be a Monarchy'. The National Party made it one of their policies that, if they were elected, they would reverse Labour's legislation and re-introduce knighthoods and damehoods to the order. {Link without Title} MEMBERSHIP QUOTAS Ordinary appointments are subject to a quota. Every year, there is a maximum appointment of 15 for Distinguished Companions, 40 for Companions, 80 for Officers and 140 for Members. Honorary and Additional memberships are made outside of the limit. Ordinary membership is open to citizens of Commonwealth Realm s. Foreigners are given honorary appointments; if a foreigner subsequently becomes a citizen of a Commonwealth Realm s/he can be reclassified as an Additional member. There can only ever be up to 30 ordinary Principal Companions at any one time. INSIGNIA
PRECEDENCE AND PRIVILEGES Section 50 of the Order's statues outline the heraldic privileges associated with membership in the Order. Principal Companions (and Knights and Dames Grand Companions) are granted the right to heraldic supporters, a privilege not common among private persons. They, and Distinguished Companions (ordinary Knights and Dames) are also granted the right to have the Order's circlet (a green, gold-edged circle with the Order's motto) surrounding the shirld on their coat of arms. The Chancellor is entitled to have a representation of the Collar of the Order around his/her shield, in addition to the supporters. In the New Zealand Order Of Precedence , members of the Order take their place with the members of the other orders of chivalry. IMPORTANT MEMBERS AND OFFICIALS OF THE ORDER
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