Dr Key

The Herald reports:

Sir John Key will be awarded a Doctor of Commerce honorary degree from the University of Canterbury. …

University of Canterbury chancellor Dr John Wood said Key was a valued alumnus.

“Sir John provided strong support to the University of Canterbury, especially in the years since the 2010/2011 earthquakes,” Wood said.

“His leadership has been critical to the rebuild, not just on campus but in the region in general, and we will be eternally grateful to him for that.

“He has also been a supporter of the university in a personal capacity and I sincerely hope that his connection with this institution will continue and strengthen in time to come.”

Asked if Key could now use the title “Dr”, a university spokeswoman said she believed the honorific “Sir” outranked it.

That is correct. He will be just SIr John Key, not Dr Sir John Key.

If he was not knighted he could be The Right Honourable Doctor John Key. That would really upset some people 🙂