On Tuesday 29th April, parishioner Sir Peter Skelton was awarded his Knighthood by the Governor-General.

His citation reads:

Honorary Professor Sir Peter Skelton, KNZM, of Christchurch, for services to environmental law.

Honorary Professor Sir Peter Skelton was appointed as an Environment Canterbury Commissioner in 2010 and has been a key player in the development of Christchurch’s post-earthquake Land Use Recovery Plan. He has been heavily involved in the development and implementation of the Canterbury Water Strategy. As an Environment Canterbury Commissioner he has chaired the Regional Planning Committee and the Regulation hearing Committee. He acted as mediator between the Christchurch City Council and the Canterbury Regional Council on the development of stormwater management consent processes. He was instrumental in establishing the Resource Management Law Association in New Zealand in 2002 and was a founding member and inaugural Vice-President of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand. He served as the first Chair of the Environmental Legal Assistance Fund Panel from 2001 to 2008. He was Associate Professor of Resource Management Law in the Environment, Society, and Design Division at Lincoln University from 2000 to 2005. As an Independent Commissioner he presided over hearings by Environment Waikato concerning the control of nitrates entering Lake Taupo. He was an advisor to the Local Government and Environment Select Committee on the Resource Management Amendment Bill in 2009. Sir Peter served as a Judge of the Environment Court from 1978 to 2000 and was appointed as inaugural Chief Freshwater Commissioner in 2020.