A number of present and former members of the legal profession have been honoured in the New Year Honours List 2016.

Supreme Court judge the Hon Justice Terence Arnold becomes a Knight. Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Sir Terence graduated from Victoria University of Wellington and New York University. He taught criminal law at Victoria University and several Canadian universities before joining law firm Chapman Tripp, where he was partner from 1985 to 1994.

After becoming a barrister sole in 1994 Sir Terence was appointed Queen's Counsel on 24 June 1997. He was Solicitor-General between 2000 and 2006, when he was appointed to the High Court bench. Sir Terence was appointed to the Supreme Court on 11 June 2013.

Retired High Court Judge the Hon Justice Pamela Jean Andrews has been appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Justice Andrews graduated in law from Victoria University of Wellington in 1982. Before that she had worked with Consumers' Institute and the external aid division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She worked at law firms Luke Cunningham and Clere and Kensington Swan, where she became a partner in 1988. Justice Andrews was appointed to the High Court in 2006, and retired in 2015.

Retired High Court Judge the Hon Justice Alan Donald MacKenzie has been appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Justice MacKenzie graduated BA from Victoria University of Wellington in 1966 and LLM in 1971. He joined Chapman Tripp as a staff solicitor, before moving to the firm now known as Minter Ellison Rudd Watts in 1970. He became a partner in 1971. In 2001 he became a barrister sole, and was appointed to the High Court in 2004.

Rotorua barrister John Te Manihera Chadwick has been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori and the law. Mr Chadwick was admitted in June 1975. He was the founding President of the Māori Law Society in 1987, Te Hunga Rōia. That year he also founded Te Waiariki Purea Trust, remaining Chairman of the Trust after 28 years. He is chairman of the Rotorua Community Law Centre and has served on its board for 16 years.

Retired District Court Judge Leslie Herrick Atkins QC has been appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services to the judiciary. Judge Atkins was admitted in 1971. He was appointed Queen's Counsel on 20 March 1990 and was appointed to the District Court bench on 16 December 1997.

Retired Māori Land Court Judge Heta Kenneth Hingston has been appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services to Māori and the judiciary. Judge Hingston was appointed to the Māori Land Court in 1984 and retired from that bench in 1999. He was also a judge of the Cook Islands High Court and Court of Appeal and Chief Justice of the High Court of Nuie.

Retired District Court Judge David James Robert Holderness has been appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services to the judiciary and the community. Judge Holderness was appointed a District Court Judge in 1988 and retired in December 2013. He has also been Chair of Christchurch Men's, Rolletson and Christchurch Women's District Prison Board, Chair of the Dunedin Prison District Board and Panel Convenor of the New Zealand Parole Board from 2011 to 2013. 

Retired District Court Judge John James Dashwood Strettell has been appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services to the judiciary. Judge Strettell was appointed a District Court Judge in 1990 and retired in 2014. He served as Administrative Family Court Judge for the Southern Region for five years.

Colin Smith of Greymouth was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community.

Conrad Smith of Pau, France, was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby.

Gerard Toebes of Wellington was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to basketball.

Wayne Moultrie of Mount Maunganui was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for services to the community.