Peter Jackson, the Oscar-winning film director, has been made a knight in the first New Zealand honours list since the country reinstated the title. New Zealand has Jackson to thank for a robust economy during the LOTR years. Sir Peter, whose final Lord of the Rings film Return of the King won best Picture and Best Director, mapped 17 Oscars for his Lord of the Rings trilogy. Jackson was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.