South Island beaches in New Zealand are turning red due to millions of dead squat lobsters.

Over the last week there have been a number of mass strandings of the small sea creature which has turned the beaches the colour red.

The red tinge on the beach is caused by the bodies of munida gregaria – squat lobsters.  

The small crustaceans cling to the sand at high tide – an behaviour for breeding – and then perish when the tide drops..

Over the years patches of dead squat lobster 20-30cm thick have landed on some southern beaches.

The strandings occur when adult squat lobster refuse to give up their breeding grounds on the seafloor.

This leaves millions of teenage squat lobster with nowhere to breed. The strong instinct to settle and “cling” to surfaces leads to their death.

Although people are sometimes alarmed by the vivid red of the dying animals, an expert has said that said the dead represented a “tiny” fraction of the overall population.

A total of 178 New Zealanders have received Queen’s Birthday honours this year. Included in this list are three new dames and two new knights.

From local politicians to actors, boardrooms to hospices, sports fields to amazing community workers, the range of people that have made New Zealand better is astounding.

Among the more well-known people to receive honours are movie director Taika Waititi and former All Black Kieran Read.

Below are some short biographies of major recipients for this year.

Professor Robert Elliott

Elliott is one of those who has been awarded a knighthood, becoming a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

He has been involved in medical research for 60 years, and some of his discoveries include treatment for a fatal form of heart disease in babies.

However, he said his working setting up Cure Kids in the 1970s is his greatest legacy.

Professor Derek Lardelli

Lardelli has been awarded a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori art.

Sir Derek is a leading tā moko artist, visual artist, kapa haka performer, orator, composer, graphic designer, researcher, cultural consultant and educationalist.

His artwork is found in national and international institutions, public buildings and private collections.

His most recognised musical composition is the All Blacks haka ‘Kapa O Pango’.

To be Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM)

• Turanga Barclay-Kerr: For services to Māori and heritage commemoration.
• Mike Bush: For services to the New Zealand Police and the community.
• Maureen Corby: For services to early childhood education.
• Dr Tessa Duder: For services to literature.
• David Ellis: For services to the thoroughbred industry.
• Elizabeth Knox: For services to literature.
• Barry Maister: For services to sport and the community.
• Bruce McKenzie: For services to the cattle industry.
• Professor John Nacey: For services to health and education.
• George Ngaei: For services to health and the Pacific community.
• Rosslyn Noonan: For services to human rights.
• Justine Smyth: For services to governance and women.

To be Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM)

• Barbara Ala’alatoa: For services to education.
• Jeanne Begej: For services to ice figure skating.
• Anthony Bonne: For services to local government and the community.
• Taika Waititi (Cohen): For services to film.
• Marston Conder: For services to mathematics.
• Derek Crowther: For services to the motor vehicle industry.
• Judith Darragh: For services to the arts.
• Dr Daryle Deering: For services to nursing – particularly mental health and addictions.
• James Doherty: For services to Māori and conservation.
• Rosemary Du Plessis: For services to women and education.
• Alec Ekeroma: For services to health and the Pacific community.
• Dr Garry Forgeson: For services to oncology.
• Dr Jan Gregor: For services to water safety and public health.
• James Griffin: For services to the television and film industries.
• Joan Harnett-Kindley: For services to netball and the real estate industry.
• Mary Holm: For services to financial literacy education.
• Terence Kayes: For services to the engineering industry.
• Ian Lambie: For services to clinical psychology.
• Anthony Lepper: For services to sports administration and local government.
• David Ling: For services to the publishing industry.
• Vicki Masson: For services to perinatal and maternal health.
• Beverley May: For services to cycling.
• Dr Anthony O’Brien: For services to mental health nursing.
• Murray Powell: For services to wildlife conservation and the deer industry.
• Thomas Rainey: For services to music and music education.
• Kieran Read: For services to rugby.
• Anne Richardson: For services to wildlife conservation.
• Avis Rishworth: For services to women.
• Alistair Spierling: For services to the State and community.
• James Tomlin: For services to art education.
• Dr Brian Turner: For services to literature and poetry.
• Āni Wainui: For services to Māori language education.
• Lisa Woolley: For services to the community and governance.
• David Zwartz: For services to the Jewish and interfaith communities.

To be Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM)

• Donna Avia: For services to poetry and the arts.
• John Baddeley: For services to local government and the community.
• Carol Bartle: For services to health, particularly breastfeeding education.
• David Benton: For services to addiction support and treatment.
• Georgina Beyer: For services to LGBTIQA+ rights.
• Marianne Bishop: For services to the union movement and the community.
• Patricia Broad: For services to gymnastics.
• John Buchanan: For services to music.
• Russell Burt: For services to primary education.
• Lois Chick: For services to education
• David Crerar: For services to mountaineering and outdoor recreation.
• Joseph Davis: For services to Māori and conservation.
• Pamela Dawkins: For services to horticulture.
• Murray Dawson: For services to horticulture.
• Jacqueline Edmond: For services to sexual and reproductive health.
• Iosefa Enari: For services to Pacific dance.
• Rhonda Fraser: For services to women and aviation.
• Emily Sarah Gaddum: For services to hockey.
• William Graham: For services to youth and the community.
• David Harvey: For services to the New Zealand Police and the community.
• Dr Jeremy Hill: For services to the dairy industry and scientific research.
• Elizabeth Hird: For services to health.
• Dr Roberta Hunter: For services to mathematics education.
• Graham Jackson: For services to the trades industry and business.
• Sandra Jenkins: For services to education.
• Muriel Johnstone: For services to Māori and conservation.
• Sharon Kearney: For services to physiotherapy and netball
• Dr Alison Keeling: For services to gerontology.
• Dr Kevin Knight: For services to education.
• Dr Maureen Lander: For services to Māori art.
• Dr Sarah Leberman: For services to women, sport and tertiary education.
• Donald Long: For services to literature and education, particularly Pacific language education.
• Takapuna Mackey: For services to martial arts and Māori.
• Donald MacLean: For services to education.
• Maureen McCleary: For services to the arts.
• Donald McKay: For services to seniors and the community.
• Dr Priscilla McQueen: For services as a poet.
• Dr Beverley Milne: For services to education.
• Desmond Minehan: For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
• Dr Arish Naresh: For services to the community and dentistry.
• Kiri Nathan: For services to Māori and the fashion industry.
• Tofilau Pereira: For services to the Pacific community and women.
• Dr Vincent Peterson: For services to the veterinary profession.
• Graham Preston: For services to education.
• Peter Ramsden: For services to conservation.
• Aseta Redican: For services to health and Pacific peoples.
• William John Rickerby: For services to conservation.
• Richard Rudd: For services to ceramic art.
• Noel Sheat: For services to ploughing and the community.
• Susan Sherrard: For services to people with disabilities.
• Peter Smale: For services to seniors, the community and horticulture.
• Dianne Smeehuyzen: For services to brass bands.
• Ramari Stewart: For services to Māori culture, wildlife conservation and research.
• Lynette Te Aika: For services to Māori language education.
• Christopher Te’o: For services to health, cycling and the Pacific community.
• Mary Thompson: For services to netball administration.
• Ngareta Timutimu: For services to Māori and education.
• Dr Janet Turnbull: For services to health.
• Robert Webb: For services to wildlife conservation.
• Kayla Whitelock: For services to hockey.
• Joan Whittaker: For services to heritage preservation and music education.
• Lloyd Whittaker: For services to heritage preservation and music education.
• Maria Winder: For services to music education.
• Maureen Wood: For services to people with disabilities.

Companions of the Queen’s Service Order (QSO)

• Clare Wells: For services to early childhood education.

Queen’s Service Medal (QSM)

• Agnes Anderson: For services to choral music.
• Edith Barnes: For services to local government and the community.
• Rhys Bean: For services to the community.
• Gillian Bishop: For services to conservation.
• Robyn Bisset: For services to the community.
• Bevan Bradding: For services to the community.
• Margaret Bradding: For services to the community.
• Kay Brereton: For services to the welfare of beneficiaries.
• Dr David Butler: For services to conservation.
• Allan Cox: For services to the community.
• Chandu Daji: For services to the Indian community and sport.
• Priscilla Dawson: For services to refugees and the Burmese community.
• Dawn Elliott: For services to art education.
• Ian Foster: For services to the community.
• Audrey Gray: For services to choral music.
• Ella Hanify: For services to music.
• Eileen Holt: For services to stroke victims and the community.
• Donna Kennedy: For services to people with disabilities.
• John Kennedy-Good: For services to the community.
• Pravin Kumar: For services to the Indian community.
• Ronald Lamont: For services to aviation.
• Emelita Luisi: For services to youth.
• Christopher Marshall: For services to music.
• Gayle Marshall: For services to the community.
• Ewan Mason: For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community.
• Neil McCorkindale: For services to hockey administration.
• Morris McFall: For services to the community and philanthropy.
• Trevor McGlinchey: For services to Māori and the community.
• Robert McGowan: For services to Māori and conservation.
• Olga McKerras: For services to the community.
• Suresh Patel: For services to the community and sport.
• Molima Pihigia: For services to Niuean art and the community.
• Afamasaga Rasmussen: For services to education and the Pacific community.
• Roy Reid: For services to seniors.
• Melva Robb: For services to rural communities and women.
• Ian Robinson: For services to surf lifesaving and the community.
• Terence Roche: For services to the community.
• Richard Scadden: For services to the community.
• Afiff Shah: For services to the Muslim community and football.
• William Sharp: For services to youth.
• Maher Singh: For services to seniors and the community.
• Barry Smith: For services to football and historical research.
• Lynn Smith: For services to dance education.
• Marie Taylor: For services to horticulture and native revegetation.
• Neil Taylor: For services to people with intellectual disabilities and the community.
• Thomas Thomas: For services to victim support and the community.
• Stuart Thorne: For services to conservation and search and rescue.
• Myra Tohill: For services to the community.
• Ian Walker: For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
• Malcolm Walker: For services to sport and education.
• Margaret Western: For services to migrant and refugee communities.
• Alexa Whaley: For services to historical research and heritage preservation.
• Roger Williams: For services to conservation.
• Gareth Winter: For services to historical research.
• Gwenyth Wright: For services to women and the community.
• Diane Yalden: For services to the community.

Honorary members of the New Zealand Order of Merit

• Angelica Edgley: For services to forensic science.
• Lita Foliaki: For services to the Pacific community.
• Dr Johan Hellemans: For services to triathlon.
• Elizabeth Herrmann: For services to the hospitality industry and philanthropy.

New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration (DSD)

• Brigadier Michael Shapland: For services to the New Zealand Defence Force.