 He was a member of the Council of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts from 1943 to 1949, and vice-president from 1949 to 1959.In the 1968 Queen's Birthday Honours, Maclennan was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, in recognition of his service as director of the National Art Gallery.Maclennan died on 6 July 1973, and his ashes were buried at Mākara Cemetery.