Wellington, Dec 31 NZPA - Controversial former liquor company boss Douglas Myers, often mistakenly knighted by the news media, is made a Knight Companion of the Order of New Zealand for services to business and the community in New Year Honours announced today.

Sir Doug, former chairman of Trans-Tasman brewer Lion Nathan and of lobby group the Business Roundtable told NZPA "you're supposed to say you feel humbled, but I don't feel very humble. I just feel very pleased and happy".

"I said to someone the other day you don't get much pleasure when you get older, quite the reverse most of the time."

Sir Doug said he had also been mistakenly knighted by the news media in England.

"I don't know what it is, maybe when you get over a certain age..."

He was most proud of the survival of the company he founded, Lion Nathan, after it expanded into Australia.

"Against all the odds and most of the commentators, certainly all the commentators over there, we survived and were successful."

In 1998 he sold his 45 percent stake to Japanese brewer Kirin for $312 million. He left the company in 2001.

But he remains proud that the board and management team that took over were the people who were there with him and they had "gone from strength to strength."

"I always thought if you're lucky enough to get the opportunity of doing something that you find interesting and challenging, that if you can leave it in a better state than you got it, then that's a big sign of success."

The success of Lion Nathan also showed New Zealand could win in business, as well as sport, and was a lesson he hoped others would take up.

A keen supporter of New Zealand sport, Lion Nathan was a major sponsor of both the All Blacks and the winning America's Cup yachting team.

"Kiwis often put themselves down and are sometimes maybe lacking in self-confidence that they can do well...I said (to Peter Blake, winning America's Cup team leader), `Come on, let's see if we can do better than (Sir) Michael Fay who had a great challenge, but wasn't successful," Sir Doug said.

He remained unapologetic about taking often controversial political stances.

"Well I wouldn't say it's a hell of a lot of fun. I think after a time it gets a bit tiring, or maybe as you get a bit older you get less resilient. I think it's just a price of doing things your own way and a bit differently in New Zealand.

"You do invite attack, but would I have rather not have done things I did and not be attacked? No ..."

Honoured with a CBE in 1991 he said what struck him when he went to Government House was the raft of deserving people from towns and communities up and down the country who had been recognised.

"It wasn't only the impact on their recognition for themselves, but it was the impact on their communities. I think New Zealand could do with a bit of social glue, and I think the honours system everyone can look at and admire those (who are honoured) ... that's a pretty worthwhile thing. There are enough divisive forces in life."

Being called Sir Doug "sounds pretty funny, to tell you the truth. You cruise along for 71 years as you are, and then suddenly you've got something else. But my father was knighted, my grandfather was knighted, so...it puts a little bit of pressure on my son".

Business Roundtable chairman Rob McLeod said that Sir Doug, chairman of the roundtable from 1990 to 1997, was an outstanding leader who had made an extraordinary contribution to business, public affairs and the community.