The NZSA Constitution (Clause 3b) writes:
Honorary Life Members: Honorary Life Members are ordinary members of the Association who have been nominated by the Executive Committee and elected by a majority vote at a General Meeting of the Association on the basis of a long and distinguished record of service to the Association. They have all the rights of an ordinary member.
Life Members of the NZSA are:
| Year | Recipient | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Richard Penny | |
| 2015 | Chris Wild | |
| 2014 | David Scott |  |
| 2014 | Jennifer Brown | Newsletter 75 |
| 2014 | Neil Cox | Newsletter 75 |
| 2014 | Stephen Haslett |  |
| 2013 | Harold Henderson | Newsletter 75 |
| 2013 | Peter Johnstone | Newsletter 75 |
| 2013 | Murray Jorgensen | Newsletter 75 |
| 2013 | Judi McWhirter | Newsletter 75 |
| 2010 | Mike Camden | Online Newsletter 72, October 2010 |
| 2010 | Len Cook | Online Newsletter 72, October 2010 |
| 2010 | Mike Doherty | Online Newsletter 72, October 2010 |
| 2009 | Robert Davies | Online Newsletter 70, September 2009 |
| 2008 | Sharleen Forbes | Online Newsletter 68, September 2008 |
| 2006 | Jean Thompson | Online Newsletter 64, September 2006 |
| 2006 | Jeffrey Hunter | Online Newsletter 64, September 2006 |
| 2005 | John Darwin | Online Newsletter 62, September 2005 |
| 2005 | Steve Kuzmicich | Online Newsletter 62, September 2005 |
| 2003 | David Vere-Jones | Online Newsletter 58, September 2003 |
| 2003 | George Seber | Online Newsletter 58, September 2003 |
| 2003 | Alastair Scott | Online Newsletter 58, September 2003 |
| 1984 | Geoff Jowett | NZ Statistician Vol 19(2) |
| 1983 | J.T. Campbell | NZ Statistician Vol 18(2) |
| 1981 | Stan Roberts | NZ Statistician Vol 16(1) |