Don McKenzie
CNZM, OBE, B.Physiotherapy, Dip. Manip. Therapy, Cert. Rehabilitation

1981- New Year's Honours List, O.B.E for services to 
Physiotherapy and the Blind

1982 - Fellowship, New Zealand Society of 
Physiotherapists 
 
1990 - New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal (New Zealand’s Sesquicentennial Commemoration)

1992 - Beamish Memorial Medal from the Association of Blind Citizens New Zealand

1997 - Paul Harris Fellow; Rotary Club of Auckland

1997 - Honorary Life Member; New Zealand Manipulative Physiotherapist's Association

2008-2009 - Rotary International Presidential Citation  

2010 - Elected inaugural Waiheke Local Board, Auckland Council

2010 - Induction into TV1 Attitude Hall of Fame for people with disabilities presented by the Governor-General of 
New Zealand, Sir Anyand Satyanan, GNZM, QSO

2011 - Mayoral appointment Disability Strategy Advisory Group Auckland Council 
 
2011- Kiwi Bank New Zealander of the Year awards, finalist in the senior section

2011 - New Zealander of the Year, Auckland Local Hero’s medal 
 
2012 - Rotary Club of Waiheke, Higher Paul Harris award for services to Rotary International and the Rotary Club of Waiheke

January 2014 - CNZM Companion of the Order New Year's Honours List for services to physiotherapy and the blind.  

“Mr Donald McKenzie was Director of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) from 2003 to 2009 and has made a major contribution to the field of physiotherapy in New Zealand. Mr McKenzie was a Trustee of the New Zealand Manipulative Physiotherapists Association's Educational Trust from 1983 to 1997. He was a member of the Steering Committee for the formation of the New Zealand College of Physiotherapy. He was an Executive member of the New Zealand Rehabilitation Association and a Private Practitioner Representative to the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand. In 2011 he was appointed to the Auckland City Council Disability Strategy Advisory Group. From 1980 to 1992 he was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the RNZFB. From 1982 to 1988 he was a member of the Advisory Council for the Community Welfare of Disabled Persons. He was a founding member of the Disabled Person's Assembly New Zealand in 1983. From 1996 to 1999 he was on the Task Force for governance reform toward self determination by the Blind. He has been on the Board of Trustees of the Blind and Low Vision Education Network New Zealand. In 2009 Mr McKenzie was the inaugural Chairman of Vision2020 New Zealand, a collaboration of vision care specialists committed to preventing avoidable blindness.”

March 2014
Distinguished Service Alumni Award, Massey University

The Defining Excellence Awards celebrate Massey’s alumni who have made outstanding contributions to their professions, their communities, the nation, and Massey University.

"The Distinguished Service Award recipient is Don McKenzie OBE, CNZM. Mr McKenzie is a leader in the fields of physiotherapy and disability rights, having chaired the multi-million dollar Blind Foundation for 18 years. He has worked as a public hospital and self-employed physiotherapist for nearly 50 years."