Dame Miriam Patricia Dell was a New Zealand women's advocate, botanist and schoolteacher. She was the president of the National Council of Women of New Zealand from 1970 to 1974 and the first New Zealand president of the International Council of Women from 1979 to 1984. She established the Committee on Women, the forerunner to New Zealand's Ministry for Women. Her work on promoting women's rights and advancement led to her being appointed a Member of the Order of New Zealand in 1993, New Zealand's highest civilian honour.

The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in the New Zealand royal honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity". It was instituted by royal warrant on 6 February 1987. The order is modelled on the British Order of Merit and the Order of the Companions of Honour.