Companion (CMG)

• John Cawte Beaglehole – of Wellington. For services in the fields of historical research and literature.
• James Roberts – secretary of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Federation and the Alliance of Labour.

• James Roberts

Knight Commander (KBE)

Civil division

• Charles Ritchie Burns OBE MD FRCP – of Wellington. For services to medicine.
• Frederick Horace Smirk MD FRCP – professor of medicine at the University of Otago.

Military division

• Major-General William George Gentry CB CBE DSO – Generals' List (Retired), New Zealand Army.
• Major-General Keith Lindsay Stewart CB CBE DSO – Generals' List (Retired), New Zealand Army.

• Sir Keith Stewart

Commander (CBE)

Civil division

• Gilbert Edward Archey OBE – director of the Auckland Institute and Museum.
• James Leggat – headmaster of the Christchurch Boys' High School.
• Campbell Percy McMeekan – superintendent of the Animal Research Station at Ruakura.
• David Miller – an entomologist; director of the Cawthron Institute, Nelson.

Military division

• Air Commodore Charles Campbell Hunter OBE – Royal New Zealand Air Force.

• Gilbert Archey
• Mac McMeekan
• David Miller

Officer (OBE)

Civil division

• Geoffrey Thomas Alley – director of the National Library Service.
• Estelle Beere – of Wellington; a teacher of dancing for many years.
• The Reverend Colin Douglas Charles Caswell – of Auckland. For services to the community.
• Ernest Charles Empson – president of the New Zealand Registered Music Teachers' Association.
• Trevor Hatherton – Geophysics Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Wellington.
• Joseph Holmes Miller – deputy leader of the New Zealand Trans-Antarctic Expedition.
• Cecily Mary Wise Pickerill MB ChB – of Wellington. For services in the field of plastic surgery.
• Thomas Athol Rafter – director of the Dominion Physical Laboratory.
• William Stanley Norman Rennie – president of the Electrical Supply Authorities Association and chairman of the Wanganui Power Board.
• Emily Elizabeth Stephens – of Auckland. For services to education.
• John Weeks – an artist, of Auckland.

Military division

• Lieutenant-Colonel Warren John Boyd ED MB ChB – Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force).
• Lieutenant-Colonel (temporary) Raymond Francis Smith ED – Royal New Zealand Infantry Corps (Territorial Force).
• Wing Commander Arnold Eric Cockburn – Royal New Zealand Air Force.

• Holmes Miller

Member (MBE)

Civil division

• Vincent Aspey – of Wellington. For services to music, especially as leader of the National Orchestra.
• Ralph Ewart Barley JP. For services in the field of local government and community work in the Hawke's Bay area.
• Kathleen Buckle. For services to the community in North Auckland.
• William Carran – chief superintendent, New Zealand Police Force.
• Percy William Jones Cockerill – of Timaru. For services to the community.
• Agnes Emily Aurora Faulkner JP – of Tauranga. For social welfare services.
• Kathleen Janet Ford – principal of the Burwood Girls' Training Centre, Christchurch.
• Malama Vaiolae Head – of Niue. For services to education.
• Violet Blanche Rollings JP – mayoress of Onehunga.
• Henry Valentine Horlor JP. For services to the community in local-body affairs in Lower Hutt.
• Agnes Mary Kearns – of Palmerston North. For services to nursing.
• Ngarangi Putiputi Te Kura Kohere – of Dannevirke. For services to nursing.
• Captain Raymond Arthur Parker – Merchant Marine. For services to the community of the North Shore area, Auckland.
• James Malcolm Patrick – chairman of the King Edward Technical College.
• Ellen Alma Rose – lately matron of the public hospital, Waipukurau.
• Oscar Silbery JP. For services to the community in local-body affairs in the Petone area.
• Thomas Stewart Spencer – of Bluff. For services to the Māori people.

Military division

• Lieutenant (SD) Trevor Harry Wickman – Royal New Zealand Navy.
• Warrant Officer Class I George Henry – Royal New Zealand Artillery.
• Major William Aitchison Driscoll McComb ED – Royal New Zealand Army Service Corps (Territorial Force).
• Major Frank Dupree McWha – Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
• Warrant Officer Class I Cecil Max Schwass – New Zealand Regiment.
• Flight Lieutenant Edward Lunn ED – Royal New Zealand Air Force.
• Flight Lieutenant Francis Davitt Mandival Moran – Royal New Zealand Air Force Reserve.

• Harry Horlor