New Year Honour For Ruth

Ruth was awarded the honour of becoming a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honours list, announced on 31 December 2009.


The citation reads:

Ruth Pretty is a chef who has contributed to several aspects of the New Zealand food industry for many years. She started Ruth Pretty Catering in 1988, specialising in weddings, corporate catering and events, with highlights including catering for the Queen at Government House in Wellington, and Lord of The Rings film launches. In a food media role, she writes a weekend column for the Dominion Post, has written for Cuisine magazine, spoken on National Radio and published five successful cookbooks.

 

The international promotion of New Zealand food and beverages is a particular interest, and Ruth has represented New Zealand at many trade fairs and food presentations all over the world, in association with New Zealand Trade & Enterprise and leading producer boards. This includes developing and operating VIP hospitality facilities at the Aichi World Expo in Japan 2005, the Team New Zealand America’s Cup in Valencia Spain in 2007 and soon the World Expo in Shanghai 2010.

 

Within New Zealand Ruth Pretty is a strong supporter of the Wellington City Mission, raises funds for schools and churches through cooking demonstrations and provided food for her local Te Horo Volunteer Fire Brigade during a major flood. In 2005 she was inducted into the New Zealand Restaurant Association’s Hall of Fame.