Arise Sir Russell

BMW Oracle Racing CEO honoured

The New Zealand honours system went through an upheaval in the late 1990s when the system, based on that of the UK was scrapped in favour of a five level New Zealand Order of Merit. However with the instatement of New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, so earlier this year he reserved this decision and those who in the last four years have received the Order of Merit have now be able to swap this for the more traditional honours.

Thus 76 people are now being knighted and among them is BMW Oracle Racing boss Russell Coutts, who won the America's Cup for New Zealand in 1996, defended the Cup for New Zealand in 2000 and then promptly prised it off New Zealand after he joined Alinghi for their 2003 challenge.

Sir Russell will be formally knighted in Wellington on 14 August.