Richard Hayes (pilot)

[2] Hayes grew up in the South Otago town of Milton, but has spent much of his adult life in Te Anau, at the edge of Fiordland National Park.

His brother, Juno Hayes, has been prominent in local politics, and was mayor of Clutha District Council for 12 years, receiving an ONZM in the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours — the same list in which Richard was knighted.

In 2008, he famously saved his company's flagship helicopter, averting a disastrous crash by landing it "like a fixed-wing aircraft" at 80 knots of ground speed.

[4] In the 2001 New Year Honours, Hayes was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to search and rescue operations.

[3][5] In the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was promoted to Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Search and Rescue and the community.