Name Portrait Date of appointment Known for Present age Vincent O’Sullivan DCNZM 5 June 2000 Writer and actor 84 Witi Ihimaera DCNZM QSM 7 June 2004 Writer 78 Penny Jamieson DCNZM 7 June 2004 Former Bishop of Dunedin 79 Joy Cowley ONZ DCNZM OBE 6 June 2005 Writer 85 Sam Neill DCNZM OBE 30 December 2006 Actor 74 Patricia Grace DCNZM QSO 4 June 2007 Writer 84 Margaret Wilson DCNZM 31 December 2008 Former Speaker of Parliament 74