A baby, a book, and now a badge of honour.

Broadcaster Barry Soper’s eventful 18 months just became bigger – with a King’s Birthday honour.

He has today been named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to journalism.

Soper’s honour recognises the 43 years that he spent in the parliamentary press gallery – an eventful four decades that also formed the backdrop for his recently published book, One Last Question, Prime Minister.

The book, which covers the tenures of 12 Prime Ministers, has spent four weeks on the best-seller list, coming in again as the top non-fiction title on last week’s Nielsen list.

Veteran political journalist Barry Soper has been made an ONZM. Image / NZ Herald

Soper now lives in Auckland and is Newstalk ZB’s senior political correspondent, but he is just as likely to be holding a toy as he is a microphone, as he juggles childcare duties with wife Heather du Plessis-Allan.

The couple have two young children – Iggy, born in 2022, and Mackay, born early last year.

Newstalk ZB's Barry Soper with then newborn daughter Mackay and son Iggy, his children with wife Heather du Plessis-Allan, in January 2025.

Soper was walking with Mackay when the Herald caught up with him on Friday.

He said the honour was a surprise, and came about two decades after he’d declined an earlier opportunity.

“About 20 years ago, I was sounded out about receiving an honour. I considered it and took advice – I was the political editor then, very much hands-on in Parliament, and I thought, no, I could be accused of bias, and I decided against it.

“This one came along, and there was another long thought process, but then I discovered who had put me up for it – two knights and a dame from across the political spectrum.

“I thought, well, even though the Government announces them, it’s not the Government that gives them. Whilst it’s the King theoretically, in reality, it’s people who nominate people for awards.

“I’m honoured to receive it.”

Heather du Plessis-Allan hosts (from left) Richard Hills, Barry Soper and Phil O'Reilly in a political panel in 2023. photo / Dean Purcell

His instincts as a journalist – and in particular, source protection – kicked in when he found out about the honour.

“I only told Heather a couple of weeks ago, even though I knew about it a couple of months ago, and she was a bit unhappy: ‘Why didn’t you tell me about it when you knew?’

“I said we’re sworn to secrecy, and being a good journalist that knows how to be taken into confidence, I decided to keep my own counsel.

“She’s very happy for me, but she says, ‘You could have told me when you knew!’”

To celebrate, he’s eyeing a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne that he’s had sitting at home for a while.

“I take my hat off to everyone who has suffered me over the years, being a political journalist and travelling, and that goes for my wife, my ex-wives and all my seven children.”

A life in journalism

Soper’s King’s Birthday honour outlines myriad achievements.

“Mr Soper has covered major international events, including the Fijian coups in 1987 and 2000, and Nelson Mandela’s inauguration in 1994,” according to the background notes supplied to media for Soper’s award.

“He was the driving influence to have Nelson Mandela as the guest speaker at the parliamentary press gallery 125th anniversary dinner, held during President Mandela’s visit to New Zealand.

Newstalk ZB's Barry Soper has been covering New Zealand politics for more than 40 years. Photo / Mike Scott

“He co-established the Southland Club, which holds an annual function in Parliament to promote the Southland province.

“He has mentored junior political journalists. He was named journalist of the year at the New Zealand Radio Awards on several occasions.

“In 2023, Mr Soper’s lifetime of work was recognised at the New Zealand Radio Awards, where he received the award for outstanding contribution to radio.”

Soper’s recent book recounts numerous other stories from his time in the press gallery as a political reporter, editor and senior correspondent, covering 12 prime ministers from Sir Robert Muldoon to Christopher Luxon.

As the Herald’s Audrey Young wrote in April, “it is a job that took him to the fall of the Berlin Wall with Mike Moore, to the Dakota Hotel in New York with David Lange to meet Yoko Ono, and to the Great Wall of China with Jim Bolger.

“Along the way, Soper has been a witness to history and made his own contributions, coining such terms as “Rogernomics” and “Crusher Collins” and getting former US Secretary of State Colin Powell to describe New Zealand as “very, very, very good friends” of the US.

“The book is a mix of known and previously unknown stories, peppered with a heavy dose of commentary on the qualities and failings of each of the Prime Ministers.”

Editor-at-large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including managing editor, NZ Herald editor and Herald on Sunday editor and has a small shareholding in NZME.