Two of Newstalk ZB's iconic voices, Barry Holland and Lesley Murdoch, are being recognised in today's Queen's Birthday Honours.

Barry Holland is made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for a broadcasting career which has spanned more than five decades.

Holland was a Mt Albert Grammar student in the 1960s when on a careers day he put down he'd like to be a cadet at '1ZB'. He was successful, though he recalls his start wasn't too auspicious.

"I remember going, and on the very first day at work, guess what I had to do? Now this is the way it should be - I had to go and clean the boiler room.

"It was actually quite clean. But that's what you had to do. First day."

Holland went on to be a ZB newsreader, producer and host of the popular Saturday morning sports programme for 20 years. He now trains up and coming broadcasters.

The veteran doesn't feel like 53 years has passed since he was himself a broadcasting cadet.

"I've enjoyed my whole time. In fact I had a student the other day who I was teaching voice presentation stuff to and she asked the question, amongst the group of them, 'what would you change?' I said 'nothing, it's been absolutely fabulous'."

Holland added he's never been completely comfortable with accolades, but is very appreciative of those who nominated him.

Newstalk ZB Christchurch host and self-confessed "sports fanatic" Lesley Murdoch is made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sport.

On top of hosting a weekly show on ZB, Murdoch commentates hockey and netball for Sky Sport and TVNZ.

She also is a member of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority Community Forum and a Board member of Netball New Zealand, with a special focus on developing the game in post-earthquake Canterbury.

Murdoch said she feels honoured to be recognised today, but is also mindful of the work of many other volunteers who have pitched in to keep their sport going in the city.

She is in no doubt it has played a role in helping people cope after the quakes.

"'I'm biased, but I believe sport and recreation is one of the biggest panaceas of bad feelings that people can have.

"If they can get active and get into recreation, then that builds stronger communities," she said.

"I mean it sounds a bit trite, but it's absolutely true and it's certainly what happened post-earthquake where people have got out there and coached little people and made them feel the world is normal.

"I think sport has played a very understated but very important role in the recovery."