The 1978 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 3 June 1978.
The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour.
Knight Bachelor
William Glendinning Rodger – of Auckland. For services to the accountancy profession. James Albert Wicks – of Wellington. For services as a stipendiary magistrate.
Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
Knight Commander (KCMG) The Honourable Donald Norman McKay – of Waipu. For public services.
Companion (CMG) Frank Richardson Askin – of Wellington. For services as Commissioner of Works (1969–1972) and lately as deputy chairman of the University Grants Committee. Cyril John Keppel – of Auckland. For services to the aviation industry, lately as chairman of Air New Zealand Limited.
Order of the British Empire
Knight Commander (KBE) Civil division Hallam Walter Dowling – of Taradale. For services to local-body and community affairs.
Commander (CBE) Civil division Alexander John Black – of Dunedin. For services to the community and science. Dr Eric Mitchell Elder – of Tuatapere. For services to the community. Walter Arnold Hadlee – of Christchurch. For services to cricket. Donald Derek Merritt – of Nelson. For services to the transport industry and the community. Robert Stuart Milne – of Auckland. For services to the City of Auckland. Dr Lindsay Russell Wallace – of Morrinsville; lately director of the Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries. David Graeme Whyte – of Wellington. For services to the community, especially as president of the New Zealand Red Cross Society.
Military division
Air Commodore Michael Frank McDonald Palmer – Royal New Zealand Air Force, Defence Headquarters, Wellington.
Officer (OBE) Civil division Austin Graham Bagnall – of Eastbourne. For services to New Zealand literature and the library profession. Roger Fairbairn Ballantyne – of Christchurch. For services to the community. Ralph John Ballinger – of Blenheim. For services to horticulture and the community. Shirley Morris Bohm – of Upper Hutt; lately director of nursing, Department of Health. Albert William Bryant – of Hamilton. For services to music and the community. The Reverend Jim Bernard Chambers – of Wellington. For services to the community, especially as chairman of the Congregational Union of New Zealand since 1969. Alexander Annis Corban – of Henderson. For services to the viticultural industry. Edward Charles Stuart Falconer – of Dunedin. For services to the community. The Very Reverend Edward Frances Farr – of Auckland. For services to the Presbyterian Church. Maxwell Rae Grierson – of Auckland. For services to the community. John Joseph Loftus – of Lower Hutt; lately deputy secretary of defence, Ministry of Defence. James Warwick Fraser Macky – of Auckland. For services to medicine and the community. Robert Patrick Magill – of Napier. For services to the YMCA and community. Dennis Raoul Hillel Nathan – of Auckland. For services to the deaf. Eric Pearce – of Nelson. For services to trade-union, educational and local-body affairs. Andrew Henri Phillips – of Wellington. For services to the New Zealand Returned Services Association as general secretary. Leonard Bingley Southward – of Paraparaumu. For services to the community. Francis Gordon Trotman – of Foxton. For services to the New Zealand Civilian Amputees Association and the community. Evan Wilfrid Williams – of Auckland. For services to dentistry.
Military division
Captain Denis Hyland O'Donoghue – Royal New Zealand Navy. Colonel Peter Noel Leslie – Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force). Group Captain John Dempster Waugh – Royal New Zealand Air Force.