King’s Birthday Honours 2026: Barfoot and Thompson boss Peter Thompson made a Companion of NZ Order of Merit (CNZM)

It was the sudden death of brother Mark in 2002 that resulted in Thompson becoming the Barfoot & Thompson managing director, a role he has held since 2005.

He is the third generation to work at the agency, having previously worked with second-generation boss Garth Barfoot, who was a senior director.

Thompson takes an active role backing many organisations and sportspeople, as well as a New Zealand presence in France.

“I do a lot personally. Where do we start? I am one of the original supporters of the New Zealand Liberation Museum at Le Quesnoy in northern France,” Thompson said.

“Why do I do it? I’ve been in a fortunate position; I’ve been told to look after others because ultimately they will look after you. I love giving back to Auckland city. It’s been good to us.”

“It’s almost 50-50,” he said of the contribution from himself and the agency.

“For the last five years, I’ve been one of the owners of the Blues, as a private shareholder.”

Since 1981, he has been a manager of College Rifles Rugby Club, the Blues and Auckland Rugby, and the sport remains a passion for him.

Barfoot & Thompson is Auckland’s largest real estate company, selling about one in three homes, as well as managing about 20,000 rental properties.

The agency employs about 2800 staff, has 88 offices, and is in Kerikeri, Whangārei, Auckland, Tauranga and owns half of Lodge Real Estate in Hamilton.

For the business, Starship and Mercy Hospice are the two largest entities backed, “and that’s really supporting the young and the old”.

The agency is an active philanthropist, with long-term sponsorship of the Starship Foundation.

More than $6 million has been raised for Starship since 2003.

The agency and Thompson personally have sponsored Mercy Hospice, major Auckland and Northland sports teams, community organisations and charities and events such as Ironman, the Auckland Writers Festival, Auckland Marathon and Diwali celebrations.

Thompson also drove the company’s sponsorship of the World Masters Games in 2017.

Schools and pubs have also benefited.

“Anything I try and do, it’s about family and youth like kids getting out and playing games, instead of sitting at home on computer games.”

The agency and Thompson have been sponsors of the New Zealand Olympic Committee since 2010.

He has been chairman of the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame and a trustee of the Young Enterprise Foundation for Business since 2021.

Thompson has also been a director of the Auckland Business Chamber since 2019.

He has been a member of the Barbarians Rugby Club since 2008 and is a key sponsor.

He was chairman of College Rifles Rugby Club from 1993 to 2007, building the first artificial turf at the club in Remuera.

He has coached and managed many rugby teams from school age with College Rifles to provincial sides for Auckland Rugby Union, also sitting on the ARU Board from 2008 to 2016.

Thompson is a life member of many sports organisations, including the ARU and the College Rifles Club.

He is also a life member of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand.

He personally sponsors Paul Coll, the world’s second-ranked squash player, and Joelle King, another of New Zealand’s top squash players.

More recently, he has taken on the support of squash champion Ollie Dunbar.

“My wife Fiona and I have also given money this year to New Zealand Canoeing to enhance their success at the LA 2028 Olympics.”

Thompson, aged 64, has been married to Fiona Thompson for 32 years. They have two daughters and live in Remuera.

The couple have two grandsons.

This year’s King’s Birthday Honours have recognised several other prominent business people too, including:

Commercial barrister Jim Farmer has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM).

Farmer said he was flattered to receive the honour.

“I thought for a little while about whether to accept it – but it is good for the family and others who have helped me along,” he added.

Competition law specialist Farmer had been an academic as well as having a long practising career in the law at Russell McVeagh and at the bar.

He took silk in New Zealand in 1986 and had two stints as president of the NZ Bar Association. He was a director at Air New Zealand from 1989 to 2002 and a director of Team New Zealand for many years.

Businessman Bryan Mogridge has also been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to children’s health, governance and philanthropy.

Mogridge, a chief executive of Montana Wines and chair of the Wine Institute through the 80s and 90s, has in recent decades brought his business acumen to philanthropy, supporting the Starship Foundation and the Massey University Foundation.

Already made an officer of the NZ Order of Merit in 2000 for services to the wine industry, Mogridge said he was “very humbled” by the latest accolade.

Karleen Everitt has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to Māori and business.

Everitt, the head of Te Ao Maori Strategy at ANZ, said the recognition was as much about whānau, hapū and iwi as it was about her own service.

“The award itself, in recognition of my contribution to Māori and business overall, really does reflect a journey that I’ve taken,” said Everitt.

She cited the late Dames Whina Cooper and Mira Szaszy as prominent role models, along with other successful wāhine.

Businessman Evan Davies has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to business.

“I feel privileged to have enjoyed a wide range of experiences in business and in the community at all levels,” Davies said.

“All made possible by the support of family, friends, and long-standing colleagues. And following the wonderful example set by my father and mother.”

Davies currently serves as group chief executive of Todd Corporation, after previously serving as managing director.

Todd Corporation is a producer, wholesaler and retailer of natural gas and a major generator and retailer of electricity in New Zealand. The company also has interests in property, healthcare, minerals and technology.

Before joining Todd Corporation, Davies was the managing director of SkyCity Entertainment Group from 1996 to 2007.

While at SkyCity, Davies oversaw the purchase, design and development of several casinos in New Zealand and Australia, including Auckland’s Sky Tower and associated SkyCity Casino complex.

He has also served in the public sector for build-related roles, including as chairman of the Ministry of Health’s Capital Investment Committee, where he worked on the Christchurch Hospital redevelopment.

Company director Trevor Janes has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for business and public sector governance.

Janes has held major board positions, including chair of ACC, KiwiRail and Mighty River Power (now Mercury Energy).

“I am very grateful to whoever nominated me, and it would be interesting to find out who it was,” Janes said. He would not comment further, preferring to keep a low profile.

Janes also served on the board of NZX’s RegCo for five years.

Geoff Maber has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Maber has contributed to the agribusiness sector for more than 50 years, and is owner, CEO and chair of Power Farming Group (PFG).

Under Maber’s leadership, the company has expanded from a small family business to become the largest privately owned tractor and farm machinery business in the Southern Hemisphere.

It generates $600 million annually, and employs 500 people in New Zealand, Australia and North America.

Rodney Wong has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and the community.

“It is satisfying to be awarded this honour, ONZM. It is a reflection of the efforts, choices and sacrifices that my family have made to build a better life and community here in New Zealand,” the Palmerston North man said.

Wong has more than 40 years of experience across both the public and private sectors and has helped establish significant facilities that benefit wildlife and the community.

He is also a trustee of the Palmerston North Hospital Foundation, receiving the civic award, its highest accolade for outstanding voluntary service.

“Being a NZ-born Chinese, it is important we are seen to be an active and valued contributor in our community.”

Kendall Flutey has been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to business and financial literacy.

The Christchurch woman co-founded financial literacy platform Banqer in 2015, teaching students about income, interest, tax, property investment and insurance.

The platform has educated more than 700,000 students in financial literacy and was named start-up company of the year in the 2018 NZ Hi-Tech Awards.

Flutey is currently the chief operating officer of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, and was director at Whai Rawa, Ngāi Tahu’s investment scheme.

She has held governance roles with the Financial Markets Authority, the Digital Council for New Zealand and the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.

– additional reporting Tom Raynel, BusinessDesk and Tamsyn Parker.