The 1978 Special Honours in New Zealand were two Special Honours Lists: in the first, dated 11 February 1978, two judges received knighthoods; and in the second, dated 20 April 1978, six people were awarded the Polar Medal, for good services as members of New Zealand expeditions to Antarctica in recent years.
Order of the British Empire
Knight Grand Cross (GBE)
- Civil division
- The Honourable Ronald Keith Davison CMG – of Auckland; Chief Justice of New Zealand.
- The Right Honourable Sir Herbert Richard Churton Wild KCMG ED – of Wellington; lately Chief Justice of New Zealand.
Polar Medal
- Major James Richard Milton Barker MBE RNZIR (Rtd) – of Christchurch; officer-in-charge, 1970–1972.
- Peter John Barrett — of Wellington; geologist, 1974–1975.
- Anthony Maurice Bromley — of Christchurch; meteorological observer and station leader, 1973–1974.
- Jack Edward Hoffman — of Lower Hutt; driller, 1975–1976.
- Malcolm Gordon Laird — of Christchurch; geologist and field leader, 1974–1975.
- Alexander Thomas Wilson — of Hamilton; geochemist, 1974–1975.
References
- "No. 47471". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 February 1978. p. 2451.
- "Honours and awards" (PDF). New Zealand Gazette. No. 10. 16 February 1978. p. 322.
- "Honours and awards" (PDF). New Zealand Gazette. No. 33. 20 April 1978. p. 1155.