The 1981 Special Honours in New Zealand was a Special Honours List, published on 8 May 1981 and with effect from 30 April 1981, in which New Zealand's outgoing deputy prime minister was recognised.^[1]

Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH)

• The Right Honourable Brian Edward Talboys MP – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Trade, lately Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand.

• 
  Brian Talboys