One of Newstalk ZB's most familiar voices has been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours, two decades after first being sounded out.

Barry Soper's been named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to journalism, recognising 43 years in the parliamentary press gallery.

He says he considered the honour 20 years ago while serving as political editor, on the advice of senior colleagues.

"And asked their opinion on whether it would be seen, or I could be seen as politically biased - and I think the conclusion was: that was a possibility. So I didn't want to compromise my independence." 

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