Former long serving New Zealand prime minister John Key has been made a knight just six months after his shock retirement.
Famously casual, Key has been handed the particularly formal title of Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year's Queen's Birthday honours.
"I was myself a little surprised it happened at the time it did," he says.
"I was not surprised in the sense that at some point an honour came my way, only because if you're blunt and honest about it, every prime minister has received some sort of honour."
And while Helen Clark and Jim Bolger - both republicans - turned down titles while still being made members of the order, Sir John was the prime minister who brought back knighthoods in 2009.
"It would be really odd to be the person who brought back titular honours to New Zealand not to take one," he said.
"I believe in this system."
His successor, Bill English, didn't leave much him choice either.
"Bill rang me and it turned out I was on a golf course overseas somewhere. He said: 'You're getting a knighthood, so make sure you take it'."
Describing the honour as humbling, Sir John was quick to say he believed it's not just about him.
And in some ways, he's more proud of what it means for wife Bronagh.
"She really made an enormous sacrifice and a big contribution. It was 15 years in politics but a decade of being on her own, having to deal with all those things and raise two kids," he says.
