30-408: Bernice Papasina Mene MNZM (born 18 January 1975) is a former New Zealand netball international . Between 1992 and 2001, Mene made 76 senior appearances for New Zealand . She represented New Zealand at the 1993 World Games , the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the 1995 and 1999 World Netball Championships . She captained New Zealand during 2000 and 2001 seasons. Between 1998 and 2002 , during
60-581: A Dame Grand Companion, formally receiving investiture in 2024 from Prince William . National Netball League (New Zealand) The National Netball League is a New Zealand netball league. Since 2016 it has served as a second-level league, initially below the ANZ Championship and later below the ANZ Premiership . It is organised by Netball New Zealand . Between 2016 and 2020, due to sponsorship and naming rights arrangements,
90-470: A Knight Grand Companion himself) restored the honours to their pre-April 2000 state. Principal Companions and Distinguished Companions (85 people in total) were given the option to convert their awards into Knighthoods or Damehoods. The restoration was welcomed by Monarchy New Zealand . The option has been taken up by 72 of those affected, including rugby great Colin Meads . Former Labour MP Margaret Shields
120-473: A Knight or Dame Companion, and thus not to accept the respective appellation of "Sir" or "Dame". The majority of those affected chose the aforereferenced appellations. After initially declining redesignation in 2009, Vincent O'Sullivan and Sam Neill accepted the change in December 2021 and June 2022, respectively. A change to non-titular honours was a recommendation contained within the original report of
150-600: A netball commentator for Sky Sport (New Zealand) . Together with Tania Dalton , Anna Stanley , Natalie Avellino and Kathryn Harby-Williams , she was part of their commentary team for the 2007 and 2011 World Netball Championships . Sources : Between 2011 and 2013 , Mene served on the New Zealand Constitutional Advisory Panel . Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit
180-409: A row between 2017 and 2019. A limited number of matches are broadcast live on Sky Sport (New Zealand) . The National Netball League was founded in 2016 by Netball New Zealand . Netball South won the inaugural title after defeating Central Zone 51–46 in the grand final at The Trusts Arena . At the 2016 New Zealand Netball Awards, Netball South winning the inaugural title was named Moment of
210-668: Is also a Secretary and Registrar (the Clerk of the Executive Council) and a Herald (the New Zealand Herald of Arms) of the Order. There also exist miniatures and lapel badges of the five levels of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Knight/Dames Grand Companion and Knight/Dames Companion are entitled to use the style Sir for males and Dame for females. The order's statutes grant heraldic privileges to members of
240-510: Is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system . It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II , Queen of New Zealand , "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", to recognise outstanding service to
270-669: 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 issue of titular honours would appear whenever honours were mentioned. In the lead up to the 2005 general election , Leader of the Opposition Don Brash suggested that should a National-led government be elected, he would reverse Labour's changes and re-introduce knighthoods. In 2009, Prime Minister John Key (later to become
300-759: The Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup era, she captained Southern Sting as they won four premierships . In 2003 , Mene was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit , for services to netball. In 2022, she was included on a list of the 25 best players to feature in netball leagues in New Zealand since 1998. Mene is the daughter of Iafeta Sua'Mene and Sally Mene . She is of Samoan descent. Her father, also known as Mene Mene, migrated from Samoa . Her parents were both athletes and they both represented New Zealand at
330-853: The Victoria University of Wellington where she gained a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics. In 2009 she received the university's Distinguished Alumni Award. Between 1999 and 2000 she attended the Dunedin College of Education where she gained a Diploma in Secondary Education and Teaching. In March 2003, she married Dion Nash , a former New Zealand cricket international . Together they have three children. In 2010 Mene posed topless while heavily pregnant, Demi Moore -style for New Zealand Woman's Weekly . In 1992, aged just 16, Mene made her senior debut for Canterbury in
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#1732790176662360-456: The 1974 Commonwealth Games . Her father competed in the decathlon while her mother competed in both the javelin and discus . She has two brothers who are also athletes. Chris Sua'mene represented Samoa in the discus at the 1996 Summer Olympics , and Nathan Sua'Mene represented Samoa in the high jump at the 1998 Commonwealth Games . Between 1988 and 1992, Mene attended Villa Maria College, Christchurch . Between 1995 and 1996 she attended
390-589: The 1995 honours committee ( The New Zealand Royal Honours System: The Report of the Prime Minister’s Honours Advisory Committee ) which prompted the creation of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Titular honours were incorporated into the new system before its implementation in 1996 after the National Party caucus and public debate were split as to whether titles should be retained. There has long been debate in New Zealand regarding
420-734: The Beko Netball League had been cancelled for 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic . On 21 July, with the support and backing of Sport New Zealand , it was announced that a modified 2020 season would take place in August. A single round of matches would be played over three consecutive weekends in Auckland , Wellington and Te Aroha . However, due to another shift in COVID-19 alert levels in August, Netball New Zealand announced that
450-654: The Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity. In the order of precedence , the New Zealand Order of Merit ranks immediately after the Order of New Zealand . Prior to 1996, New Zealanders received appointments to various British orders, such as the Order of the Bath , the Order of St Michael and St George , the Order of the British Empire , and the Order of the Companions of Honour , as well as
480-617: The NNL was known as the Beko Netball League . Since 2022, the league has been sponsored by Synergy Hair and, as a result, it is also known as the Synergy Hair National League . The teams in the competition are effectively the reserve teams of ANZ Premiership teams. Netball South won the inaugural title in 2016. Central Zone/Central Manawa have been the league's most successful team, winning three titles in
510-550: The National Provincial Championships. She played for Canterbury between 1992 and 1994, Wellington in 1995 and 1996 and Southland in 2000. Between 1998 and 2002 , Mene played for Southern Sting in the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup league. She captained Sting as they won four premierships , winning titles in 1999 , 2000 , 2001 and 2002. Mene was one of the first professional netball players in New Zealand . She retired from senior netball at
540-572: The Year. Between 2017 and 2019, Central Zone/Central Manawa won three successive titles. After finishing as runners up in 2016, Central Zone won their first title in 2017. With a team featuring Karin Burger , Kimiora Poi and Tiana Metuarau , Central Zone defeated Hellers Netball Mainland 43–41 in the grand final. They completed a three in a row after retaining the title in both 2018 and 2019. On 27 March 2020, Netball New Zealand announced that
570-492: The appropriateness of titles. Some feel it is no longer appropriate as New Zealand has not been a colony since 1907, and to these people titles are out of step with present-day New Zealand. Others feel that titles carry both domestic and international recognition, and that awarded on the basis of merit they remain an appropriate recognition of excellence. In April 2000 the then new Labour Prime Minister, Helen Clark , announced that knighthoods and damehoods had been abolished and
600-531: The distinction of Knight Bachelor . The change came about after the Prime Minister's Honours Advisory Committee (1995) was created "to consider and present options and suggestions on the structure of a New Zealand Royal Honours System in New Zealand, which is designed to recognise meritorious service, gallantry and bravery and long service". The monarch of New Zealand is the Sovereign of the order and
630-526: The early 2000s, Mene worked as a teacher at Mount Albert Grammar School . Her subjects included French, German and English. In 2000 she established the MAGS Netball Academy. Subsequent graduates of the academy have included Maria Tutaia , Maia Wilson , Jamie-Lee Price and Erikana Pedersen . In 2005 , Mene was a contestant on New Zealand's Dancing with the Stars . She has also worked as
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#1732790176662660-635: The end of the 2002 season. On 23 July 2018, Mene, together with Donna Wilkins , Belinda Colling and Natalie Avellino , played for Sting in a charity match against Netball South of the National Netball League . The match marked Sting's 20th anniversary. In April 2022, she was included on a list of the 25 best players to feature in netball leagues in New Zealand since 1998. Between 1992 and 2001, Mene made 76 senior appearances for New Zealand . On 7 November 1992, aged just 17, she made her senior debut against England during an away tour. At
690-603: The first and second level, who are entitled to have the Order's circlet ("a green circle, edged gold, and inscribed with the Motto of the Order in gold") surrounding their shield. Grand Companions are also entitled to heraldic supporters . The Chancellor is entitled to supporters and a representation of the Collar of the Order around his/her shield. The following contains the names of the small number of living Distinguished Companions (DCNZM) who chose not to convert their appointment to
720-445: The five levels, there are three different types of membership. Ordinary membership is limited to citizens of New Zealand or a Commonwealth realm . "Additional" members, appointed on special occasions, are not counted in the numerical limits. People who are not citizens of a Commonwealth realm are given "Honorary" membership; if they subsequently adopt citizenship of a Commonwealth realm they are eligible for Additional membership. There
750-508: The governor-general is its Chancellor. Appointments are made at five levels: From 2000 to 2009, the two highest levels of the Order were Principal Companion (PCNZM) and Distinguished Companion (DCNZM), without the appellation of "Sir" or "Dame". The number of Knights and Dames Grand Companion (and Principal Companions) is limited to 30 living people. Additionally, new appointments are limited to 15 Knights or Dames Companion, 40 Companions, 80 Officers and 140 Members per year. As well as
780-593: The order's statutes amended. From 2000 to 2009, the two highest levels of the Order were Principal Companion (PCNZM) and Distinguished Companion (DCNZM), without the appellation of "Sir" or "Dame"; appointment to all levels of the Order were recognised solely by the use of post-nominal letters. A National Business Review poll in February 2000 revealed that 54% of New Zealanders thought the titles should be scrapped. The Labour Government's April 2000 changes were criticised by opposition parties, with Richard Prebble of
810-557: The revised 2020 Beko Netball League was also cancelled. The five founding five members of the National Netball League were effectively the reserve teams of the five New Zealand ANZ Championship teams – Central Pulse , Mainland Tactix , Northern Mystics , Southern Steel and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic . When the ANZ Championship was replaced in New Zealand by the ANZ Premiership , it featured
840-477: The senior New Zealand team for the first time. During her playing career Mene, regularly suffered with a degenerative knee condition. Shortly after being first appointed captain, she had an injury-enforced break. She again captained New Zealand during 2000 and 2001 seasons. In 2001 she captained New Zealand as they won a Tri Nations Series that also featured Australia and South Africa . In February 2002, she announced her retirement from international netball. During
870-412: The time she was still attending Villa Maria College . She had previously represented New Zealand at the 1992 World Youth Netball Championships . She subsequently represented New Zealand at the 1993 World Games , the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the 1995 and 1999 World Netball Championships . She captained New Zealand at the 1996 World Youth Netball Championships . In 1997, aged just 22, she captained
900-761: Was one of those who accepted a Damehood, despite receiving a letter from former Prime Minister Helen Clark "setting out why Labour had abolished the titles and saying she hoped she would not accept one". Clark's senior deputy, Michael Cullen , also accepted a knighthood. Appointments continued when Labour returned to government in 2017 as the Sixth Labour Government . The 2018 New Year Honours included seven knights and dames. The government did not comment on its position regarding knighthoods and damehoods, but Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern did specifically congratulate two women on becoming Dames Companion. On leaving office in 2023, Ardern accepted appointment as
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