Richie McCaw received the insignia of a member of the Order of New Zealand at Government House today.

Richie McCaw has been formally given New Zealand's highest honour.

On Thursday afternoon the former All Blacks captain, 35, received his insignia from the governor-general as a member of the the Order of New Zealand (ONZ), which is confined to 20 living New Zealanders.

A higher honour than a knighthood, it is awarded for "outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity".

MONIQUE FORD/ FAIRFAX NZ Richie McCaw and fiancee Gemma Flynn at Government House on Thursday after he received his insignia as a member of the Order of New Zealand.

It is New Zealand's most senior honour. Members are appointed to the order by the Queen, on the prime minister's advice.

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There was a blinding array of flashes as McCaw accepted the honour – and laughter when he was too tall for Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae to put the insignia around his neck, being forced to bend down to receive it.

MONIQUE FORD/ FAIRFAX NZ McCaw with Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae after receiving his insignia.

McCaw said the award was a "huge honour and a privilege to receive".

"When you play rugby, you don't expect to have something like this bestowed upon you.

"I guess it's recognition of the hard work you put in to try and represent your country as best you can."

MONIQUE FORD / Fairfax NZ McCaw poses outside Government House.

Getting the country's highest honour was "pretty cool".

"Some of the words the governor-general said were it wasn't just about the sport and I guess the way you conduct yourself off [the field] as well and something as a rugby team that's something I'm pretty proud, so you're not just good rugby players but good ambassadors for your country."

McCaw was joined by his fiancee, Black Sticks hockey player Gemma Flynn, and parents Don and Margaret McCaw at the ceremony.

REUTERS Richie McCaw and his All Blacks are in the running again for Team of the Year at the Laureus sports awards.

Flynn wore a knee-length white dress with three-quarter sleeves and white stiletto heels for the occasion.

He becomes the youngest person to receive the honour – a position previously held by former prime minister Mike Moore, who was appointed at 50.

Opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa made it into the elite echelon at age 51.

CHRIS SYMES/PHOTOSPORT McCaw competed in the GODZone adventure race earlier this month.

Mateparae said badges were awarded for the duration of a member's life, then passed on to the next person admitted to the order, so each badge had its own whakapapa.

"The badge awarded to Mr McCaw today is being awarded for the first time, so it will start its whakapapa journey today."

Mateparae said it was important to recognise the achievements of New Zealanders through the investiture ceremonies, which have been running since Tuesday at Government House in Wellington.

Since he retired from rugby, McCaw has been training to become a commercial helicopter pilot, has become engaged, and ran the 500km GodZONE race.

"I don't want to look back and say I wish I'd tried this, I wish I'd done that. I probably got myself busier than I intended straight away, but it's things that I want to do and find enjoyable."

Once he was done rubbing shoulders with the elite group of Kiwis on Thursday, McCaw said he'd be back down south flying helicopters on Friday.

"I think the big thing about New Zealand is, it's great that people get recognised for these things, but at the end of the day you're just an ordinary Kiwi really, and your friends and family expect that."

McCaw said there had been more media scrums than he'd imagined since he hung up his boots, "but I suppose when you do idiot things like running the hills you get that sort of thing, but it's all pretty cool".

There were no regrets about declining a knighthood.

"As a young man, you still want to be able to integrate yourself with your mates as normal, and not having a title like that makes it somewhat easier."

Other retiring All Blacks veterans will also be recognised when Mateparae presents more New Year honours in Auckland later this month.

Dan Carter will receive his insignia as an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM), while Keven Mealamu, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Tony Woodcock are made members of the order.

Hours before McCaw's ceremony, long-time sports commentator John McBeth, who was born in McCaw's hometown of Kurow, was recognised as a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

"He probably wishes he was here receiving his award at the same time as me, Kurow kids together."

McBeth said McCaw's highest honour was well deserved.

"There are people around that say he's only a rugby player, but he's meant so much to New Zealand, he's such a nice bloke, no huge ego and no black marks against him.

McBeth's 40-year career spans four America's Cup regattas and eight Olympic Games.

"I do vividly recall sitting in the [Memorial] Coliseum in Los Angeles in 1984 waiting for some great track and field athletes to come out, and I had a moments silence and thought, how the hell did this happen? I've been really lucky, and I've loved it."

ALSO HONOURED

* Former Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu, ONZM, for services to netball

* Former New Zealand Herald reporter John Armstrong, ONZM for services to journalism

* Gilbert Enoka, ONZM, for services to rugby and sports psychology

* Former Silver Fern and Pulse player Jodi Brown, MNZM, for services to netball

* Emeritus Professor Russell Bishop, ONZM, for services to Maori and education

OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ORDER OF NEW ZEALAND

Sir Don McKinnon, Sir Brian Lochore*, Ken Douglas, Sir Lloyd Geering, Christian Karlson Stead*, Sir Kenneth Keith, Sir Bob Charles, Cardinal Tom Williams, Jim Bolger, Dame Catherine Tizard*, Dame Miriam Dell, Jonathan Hunt, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Sir (Frederick) Miles Warren, Clifford Whiting, Michael Moore, Sir Murray Halberg, Helen Clark, Sir Peter Jackson*, Albert Wendt, Dame Malvina Major*, Sir Ronald Carter, Sir Peter Gluckman, Sir Shridath Ramphal**, Michael Duffy*, Dame Margaret Bazley*, the Duke of Edinburgh*.

* Additional members, appointed in commemoration of important royal, state or national occasions, not counted in the 20-person limit.

** Honorary member appointed to mark the Queen's visit to New Zealand, also not counted in the 20-person limit.

