ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi ˈeɪt, mˈeɪ ɹᵻsˈiːvd ðə bˈɛni ɐwˈɔːɹd fɹʌmðə vɚɹˈaɪəɾi ˈɑːɹɾɪsts klˈʌb ʌv nˈuː zˈiːlənd, ðə hˈaɪɪst ˈɑːnɚɹ ɐvˈeɪləbəl tʊ ɐ nˈuː zˈiːlənd vɚɹˈaɪəɾi ˌɛntɚtˈeɪnɚ.
In 1988, May received the Benny Award from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand, the highest honour available to a New Zealand variety entertainer.