"I've thought about it. It's 'Oi you'. I will answer to that," the Hamilton artist and cartoonist said yesterday.
For more than 40 years, Mr Henshaw (72) has produced the cartoon character Jock, portraying appreciation of farming and rural life in a satirical way.
When he was notified he was being honoured in this year's New Year's Honours list, he felt "like a stunned mullet".
He found his suit, which he had not worn for years, took it outside and "gave it a good shake and no moths flew out".
He would wear it to receive the honour at a function in Wellington next Friday.
While honoured by the gesture, Mr Henshaw said it really belonged to the people and organisations throughout New Zealand who had ideas, were trying to do something, and had asked him "for a hand".
Those organisations included the Waimate Sheep Dog Trial Club, which approached him to illustrate a book which was being written by Waimate historian and author John Foley.
The club would hold its 100th trials next Friday and Saturday, while the club itself would officially turn 100 next year.
Mr Henshaw, who was in Waimate this week, said it had been an "absolute joy" to be involved with the centennial book project and spend time in the town.
"What a district. I feel at home . . . and I'm not kidding.
"Everywhere I go and every time I turn around, the whole place just puts a smile on my face," he said.
Mr Henshaw's famous Jock cartoons stemmed from the need to give a Christmas present to a dying farmer and "real bloke" who was not expected to live to New Year.
He drew one at "lightning speed" in a motel in Murchison, on the way south to visit the man, and presented it to him.
The cartoon was pinned above the man's bed and generated much laughter.
He then did about six cartoons and took them to various farming publications to see who he could sell them to.
He received the "most important and brilliant contract" he ever had with New Zealand Farmer editor Ron Vine, with the pair shaking hands and no paperwork involved.
The first cartoon featured in the New Zealand Farmer in 1967 and the series continued for 34 years.
His cartoons now also featured on calendars which were sold throughout Australia and New Zealand.
His inspiration came from "just listening".
"People say things and they don't realise," he said.
