Honoring Excellence: Lee Murray Appointed Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit by King Charles III

Honoring Excellence: Lee Murray Appointed Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit by King Charles III

We are overjoyed to share some truly remarkable news from the world of speculative fiction! Celebrated Kiwi author Lee Murray has been appointed by King Charles III as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in the 2025 New Year Honors. This prestigious accolade recognizes her extraordinary contributions to literature, particularly in the realm of speculative fiction, and cements her legacy as a visionary force in the genre.

Equivalent to royal honors in other Commonwealth nations, the New Zealand Order of Merit celebrates individuals who have made distinguished contributions to their field. Murray is not only the sole honoree in literature for 2025 but also one of the rare few to receive such recognition specifically for speculative fiction—an accomplishment that speaks volumes about her impact on the genre.

Reflecting on the honor, Murray said:

“It is difficult to describe how humbling and uplifting it is to receive a royal honor, and especially for speculative fiction genres of sci-fi, horror, and fantasy, which are widely viewed as the ugly stepsisters of literature despite their enormous popularity.”

This accolade follows her groundbreaking win of the 2024 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Fiction, where she became the first person of Asian descent to receive the honor. Murray sees this latest recognition as a beacon for speculative fiction creators worldwide:

“I hope this acknowledgement of my work will raise awareness of the important contributions our speculative creatives—including thought leaders, visionaries, and poets—bring to contemporary society. Speculative literature allows us to consider important issues in ways that can result in deeper understanding and sometimes offer real change.”

A Legacy of Leadership and Creativity

Photography Credit: Maree Wilkinson Photography, author photo

Murray’s accomplishments are as varied as they are significant. A five-time Bram Stoker Award-winner and New Zealand’s only recipient of the Shirley Jackson Award, she has written or curated nearly 40 titles since 2007, blending her Asian-Kiwi heritage with rich storytelling. Her latest work, Fox Spirit on a Distant Cloud, uses the lens of the shapeshifting fox spirit of Asian myth to examine the lives of Chinese women in New Zealand.

Beyond her writing, Murray has made an indelible mark on the literary community through her tireless advocacy and mentorship. She has supported countless writers and programs through organizations such as the Horror Writers Association (HWA), Australasian Horror Writers Association (AHWA), and the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA). As co-founder of Young New Zealand Writers, she spent a decade fostering development and publishing opportunities for students, and her efforts to establish a juried award for speculative fiction in New Zealand and Pacific Island nations promise to uplift the genre further.

Her work extends to innovative editorial projects like the upcoming anthology This Way Lies Madness (Flame Tree Press), which aims to eliminate stigmatizing portrayals of mental illness in horror—a project she describes as one of her most meaningful yet.

A Milestone Moment

Murray will formally receive her ONZM insignia later this year at New Zealand’s Government House, where her family, peers, and fans will undoubtedly celebrate this momentous achievement.

As speculative fiction continues to break barriers and gain recognition on the global stage, Lee Murray’s honor is a triumph not only for her but for the entire literary community. Her work, her vision, and her dedication remind us all of the power of storytelling to inspire change and foster empathy.

Building up to This Honor

In our previous interviews with Lee Murray, she shared insights that resonate deeply with her recent appointment as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM).

In 2018, she discussed her involvement in organizing GeyserCon 2019, New Zealand’s national science fiction, fantasy, and horror convention, highlighting her commitment to fostering the speculative fiction community.

She mentioned:

“I’ve been putting together the draft programme for GeyserCon, 2019, New Zealand’s national science fiction, fantasy, and horror convention, which is held in Rotorua, from May 31 through to June 3.”

This dedication to community building is further exemplified by her co-founding of Young New Zealand Writers, a not-for-profit organization providing development and publishing opportunities for New Zealand school students from 2012-2022.

In a 2022 interview, Murray reflected on her journey into speculative fiction:

“I started my writing career following that old adage ‘write what you know’. This led me to write a breezy contemporary women’s fiction novel with scenes plucked straight from my life. However, in the course of writing that work, I realised that I wanted to explore deeper themes, to examine issues that resonated for me, to find out more about the things that frightened me — in order to make some sense of them.”

This pursuit of deeper themes is evident in her latest work, Fox Spirit on a Distant Cloud, which draws on her Asian-Kiwi heritage to examine the lives of Chinese women in New Zealand through the lens of the shapeshifting fox spirit of Asian myth.

Murray’s commitment to authentic storytelling and community engagement has significantly enriched the speculative fiction genre, making her recent honor well-deserved.

We look forward to witnessing her continued contributions to literature and the speculative fiction community.

Congratulations, Lee, on this well-deserved recognition! May your accomplishments continue to illuminate the path for speculative fiction creators everywhere.