1990 Special Honours (New Zealand)

The 1990 Special Honours in New Zealand were three special honours lists: the first was dated 6 February 1990 and made appointments to the Order of New Zealand and the Queen's Service Order; the second was dated 17 May 1990 made awards of the Polar Medal; and the third was dated 27 November 1990, to recognise the incoming governor-general, Dame Catherine Tizard.

Order of New Zealand (ONZ)

 * Additional member
 * Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
 * Dr Thomas Allen Monro Curnow.
 * The Honourable Michael John Duffy.
 * Nene Janet Paterson Clutha (Janet Frame).
 * Arthur Leslie Lydiard.
 * Sir Guy Richardson Powles.


 * Honorary member
 * Sir Shridath Surendranath Ramphal (Sonny Ramphal).

Dame Grand Cross (GCMG)

 * Dame Catherine Anne Tizard – Governor-General Designate of New Zealand.

For community service

 * Extra companion
 * Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.


 * Additional companion
 * Beverley Gwendolen, Lady Reeves.

For public services

 * Additional companion
 * The Most Reverend Sir Paul Alfred Reeves – Principal Companion of the Queen's Service Order and Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over New Zealand since 1985.


 * Ordinary companion
 * The Right Honourable Sir William (Frederick Payne) Heseltine  – private secretary to The Queen since 1986.

Polar Medal

 * With clasp "Antarctic 1978–88"
 * Alexander Richard Pyne – of Wellington. For good services as a member of New Zealand expeditions to Antarctica in recent years.
 * Garth Edwin Varcoe – of Christchurch. For good services as a member of New Zealand expeditions to Antarctica in recent years.