New Zealand's first female High Court judge and a man who worked tirelessly for the betterment of Māori have received the highest honours in this year's Queens Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours list. 

Dame Silvia Cartwright and Sir Tipene O'Regan have both been recognised. 

Dame Silvia was New Zealand's first female High Court judge and has been recognised for contributions across fields including women's health and justice. 

She also served as the country's 18th Governor-General 

Dame Silvia told Tim Dower she was drawn to law as there were very few interesting careers for women while she was a student. 

“In my school, it was teaching, nursing or medicine because I was at Otago and I wasn’t able or interested to do any of those.” 

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