It is with great humility that Rotorua's Doris Vercoe is accepting her new title – Doris, Lady Te Parekohe Vercoe.

From Ngaitai and Whakatohea, she told the Daily Post she decided to accept the title on behalf of the work of her late husband, Archbishop Te Whakahuihui Vercoe, and for Maori.

In March this year the Queen approved the reinstatement of titles to the first two levels of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Principal and Distinguished Companions of the Order, like Bishop Vercoe, were given the opportunity to elect to be redesignated as Knights or Dames Grand Companion, or Knights or Dames Companion of the Order.

Wives of deceased Principal and Distinguished Companions of the Order were also given the opportunity to elect to use the courtesy title of "Lady". Today is the date on which the names of those who have elected to be redesignated as knights and dames are formally announced.

While a defence chaplain in 1970, Bishop Vercoe (Ngati Pikiao and Tuhoe) became a Member of the British Empire and then in 2000 he was made a Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

He died at home in the care of his family on September 1, 2007 and is buried at Torere on the East Coast.

Doris, Lady Vercoe said her husband would have been "humbled" to accept a knighthood. She had thought long and hard about accepting the honour of the title of "Lady".

"The only reason I am accepting is because of [my husband] and for our people. He always said that whatever we did we do it not for ourselves but for our whanau and our people," she said through tears as she recalled memories of her late husband.

Their son, Graeme Vercoe, said his mother had earned the title as she had always supported their father and their people. "Dad always said we supported the people, and when he became a bishop we asked him who was going to look after the bishop. He said, 'Our bishops rely on their wives.' They did everything together," Graeme said.