Ralph Hotere (Te Aupouri) has been awarded the highest honour in the New Year 2012 New Zealand Honours.  Hotere, one of New Zealand’s most important contemporary artists, was made a Member of the Order of New Zealand for services to New Zealand.

The honour is limited to 20 living members at any time, other members include Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Helen Clark.

Hotere's work is represented in every major public and private collection in New Zealand and in art museums throughout the world.

He is quoted as saying "There are very few things I can say about my work that are better than saying nothing."

In 1994 Hotere received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Otago and a University of Auckland honorary doctorate in 2005. He received an inaugural Icon Award from the Arts Foundation. In 2006 he was awarded Te Taumata Award by Te Waka Toi recognising outstanding leadership and service to Maori arts.

Read the Arts Foundation biography on Ralph Hotere.

Below is the list of other creative New Zealanders who received a New Year 2012 Honour. Services to arts, music, film, television, radio, entertainment, architecture, media and literature were recognised.

THE ORDER OF NEW ZEALAND (ONZ)

Mr Hone Papita Raukura Hotere, of Dunedin. For services to New Zealand.

THE NEW ZEALAND ORDER OF MERIT (DNZM)

Dames Companion

Ms Suzanne Elizabeth Moncrieff, ONZM, of Upper Moutere. For services to the arts.

Companions (CNZM)

Mr Ian Lemuel Taylor, of Dunedin. For services to television and business.

Officer (ONZM)

Dr Alan Ross Jamieson, of Auckland. For services to radio spectrum management.

Mrs Sylvia Margarite Piera McArthur, of Wellington. For services to the arts.

Emeritus Professor Peter Gerard Walls, of Wellington. For services to music.

Members (MNZM)

Ms Cheryl Leigh Cameron, of Porirua. For services to film.

Mr Roger Allan Gascoigne, of Porirua. For services to the media.

Mr Pio Keith Terei of Auckland. For services to entertainment.

THE QUEEN'S SERVICE MEDAL (QSM)

Mrs Clare Averil Derby, of Upper Hutt. For services to music.

Mr Michael Hannaway, of Wellington. For services to architectural conservation.

Mr David Samuel Howan, of Wellington. For services to brass bands.

Mr Kerrin Rhyl Marshall of Napier. For services to pipe bands.

Mr Graeme Ernest Mudge, of Gisborne. For services to the arts.

Mrs Margaret Wensley Willcox, of Auckland. For services to literature.

• See the full New Zealand New Year Honours 2012 list. It was released on December 31, 2011.