To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
ANSTEY, Mr Bruce
For services to motorsport
Mr Bruce Anstey is a world renowned motorcycle racer who has achieved numerous victories in international events.
Mr Anstey has achieved ten championship victories at the Isle of Man TT road racing circuit and in 2014 set a new lap record for the course. He has achieved 31 podium finishes at the Isle of Man TT. He has achieved 10 total victories and the 2010 lap record at the Ulster Grand Prix, and 10 victories at the North West 200 street race in Northern Ireland. He holds the lap speed record of 216kph at the Dundrod Circuit, the world's fastest road race circuit, achieved during his 2010 Ulster Grand Prix victory. He achieved New Zealand national titles in Formula Two in 1993 and 1999 and in 600cc Sports Production in 1999. He battled cancer in the mid-1990s and continued to race during this time, achieving success in the Formula Two races at Whanganui's Cemetery Circuit. His name has appeared on the Motorcycling New Zealand Roll of Honour almost every year since 1999. In 2011 Peter Minturn Goldsmith School designed a medal to honour New Zealand-born motorcycle legends; Mr Anstey was one of the seven racers chosen to receive the medal.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
BELL, Mr Henry Walter (Harry)
For services to the mining industry
Mr Harry Bell has been involved in the mining industry in New Zealand since 1948.
From 1957 to 1993 Mr Bell served as a Mines Rescue Brigadesman. He served as a member and Chairman of the Mines Rescue Management Committee, now the Mines Rescue Trust. He played an integral role in the development of the Mines Rescue Trust Act and Trust deed in the early 1990s and in the transitional period until the Mines Rescue Trust was fully constituted in August 1993. From 1977 to 1992 he was a member of the Board of Examiners for Coal Mining and was involved in the development of new mining regulations to complement health and safety in the Employment Act 1992. As a Mine Inspector he was instrumental in the withdrawal of mines rescue teams prior to a large explosion at the Huntly West Mine in 1994. He has served as New Zealand Chief Inspector for coal mines and quarries from 1984 to 1994. He has taught at numerous Schools of Mines and as a tutor at Greymouth's Tai Poutini Polytechnic since 2008. Since 2010 Mr Bell has contributed his knowledge and experience as an advisor to the Pike River families and the Pike River Royal Commission.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
BICKERS, Mr Alan Norman, JP
For services to the community
Mr Alan Bickers has been involved in a wide range of community groups and public organisations since the late 1970s.
He was Trustee and Chairman of Elms Foundation and Chairman of the Distributions Committee of Compass Charitable Trust. He was Chairman of the Board of Governors of Bethlehem Tertiary Institute and Project Manager for the redevelopment of Holy Trinity Church in Tauranga. He was President of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand and has been Chairman of the Building Practitioners Board from 2005 until 2014 and Chairman of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board from 2011 to 2014. Mr Bickers served as a member and Chairman of the Transit New Zealand Board from 1997 to 2004 and was a member of the Pacific Health/Bay of Plenty District Health Board and Chairman of its Audit Committee from 1998 to 2000.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
BICKERTON, Mr Robert Henry (Bob)
For services to music
Mr Bob Bickerton has contributed to music in New Zealand since the late 1970s.
Mr Bickerton joined the Chamber Music Federation in 1979. In 1984 he was appointed General Manager of the Southern Sinfonia. He took up the role as Director of the Nelson School of Music in the late 1980s. During his seven years as Director he produced Nelson's first music/arts festival: the Nelson School of Music's Centennial Festival. He was involved in the development of the Adam Chamber Music Festival in 1992, and is the current Manager of the Festival. He is a specialist in Celtic Music and as well as having performed in concert venues and folk festivals, he has taken the joy of music to many thousands of children through his school concert programmes. He has been involved musically and technically with many leading New Zealand musicians. Mr Bickerton founded both the New Zealand Uilleann Pipers Association and also the Celtic Flute School of New Zealand.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
BROWN, Mr Craig Alexander Elliott, JP
For services to the community
Mr Craig Brown has contributed to the Northland community in a range of areas.
Mr Brown was a member and past President of the Waipu Lions Club from 1978 to 1996 and a Chairman of the Waipu School Committee, overseeing the Waipu School Centerary celebrations. He then served six years as Chairman of the Bream Bay College Board of Trustees and chaired the McBirnie Trust, which made annual awards to students who contributed to school life. He served 12 years on the Whangarei District Council and was Mayor of Whangarei for six of those years from 1998. He has served four terms since 2004 on the Northland Regional council, including three years as Chairman. He has been a member of the Northland District Health Board since 2004 and was a co-opted Board member of the Northland Polytech Council from 2004 to 2010. He has been involved in numerous initiatives and working committees during his public service, including establishing 'The Pulse' youth shop in Raumanga, the Safer Community Council, the first Mayors Task Force for Jobs and Councils' Youth Employment training in Northland, and initiating the construction of several infrastructure and community projects.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
CARTER, Mr Scott Jonathan
For services to sport
Mr Scott Carter has been a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors since 2000 and was nominated by Sport New Zealand to be an independent director of New Zealand Rugby League in 2008.
Mr Carter served as Chairman of the New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) Board from 2009 to 2014 and has overseen the organisation's development from a deficit status to a body in financial credit. During this period the NZRL developed "player pathways" for the sport, which includes a national Secondary Schools tournament, and has inaugurated a regular programme for international matches. He was Chairman of the Rugby League International Federation from 2011 to 2014 and has been involved with a rewrite of the Federation's constitution, development and finance committees and the launch of the Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation. Mr Carter was Board Chairman of Eventing New Zealand from 1999 to 2001, Planning Officer for the New Zealand Horse Trials Executive, and Chairman of the Waitemata Area Horse Trials from 1996 to 1998.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
COOPER, Ms Irene Mavis
For services to education
Ms Irene Cooper was President of the New Zealand Educational Institute in 2006/2007 and is a Board member of the New Zealand Teachers Council (NZTC).
Ms Cooper has been Chair of the development group for Graduating Teacher Standards and was project leader for the development of the Code of Ethics for the teaching profession. She has been the Principal of Hillcrest Normal School in Hamilton since 1996, a training school for Initial Teacher Education students. The school services students from a number of programmes at Waikato University, as well as from Massey, Christchurch and the WINTEC early childhood programme. She has been involved with a number of Ministry of Education and Ministerial Working Groups, including the 2013 Advisory Group for the Transformation of the New Zealand Teachers Council and working parties on Initial Teacher Education and the School Year and School Day. She was a member of the Gifted and Talented National Advisory Group, the National Curriculum Advisory Group and the School Operational Funding Working Group. Ms Cooper is currently an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Waikato and was a member of the New Zealand Teachers Council Practicing Professional Panel for Initial Teacher Education Review.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
DAY, Mr William Robert (Bill), JP
For services to health and the community
Mr Bill Day was a Westpac Bank employee from 1966 to 1999 and was instrumental in arranging the sponsorship of the Westpac rescue helicopter in Wellington that now extends to Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch.
Mr Day was appointed 34 years ago as a Trustee of the Life Flight Trust Wellington, and has been the Trust's Chairman for the last 14 years, representing it on the Board of Wellington Free Ambulance Incorporated Society Inc. He was General Manager for six years of the New Zealand Community Trust, raising some $250 million for amateur sport and other charitable community projects. As Chair of the Wellington Hospitals Foundation since 2005, which he was instrumental in establishing, he has raised funds to improve the comfort and welfare of patients and families at four hospitals in the region through various initiatives. He has served on the Shakespeare Globe Theatre Trust, the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand and Wellington Free Ambulance Trust and Port Nicholson Rotary Club for many years. Mr Day coordinated treatment in Wellington of two patients from developing countries sponsored by the Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children programme.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
DENG LI, Mr Simon
For services to New Zealand-China relations and the arts
Mr Simon Deng Li has contributed to the New Zealand-China relationship for 18 years.
Mr Deng Li has sponsored arts and culture exchanges between New Zealand and China since 1996. These sponsored events have included art exhibitions, film festivals, performances by Chinese singing and dancing groups, and delegations of Chinese artists. He sponsored seven different Chinese arts events in 2013. He has also sponsored the travel of Te Papa's curator to China for the return to New Zealand for one year of the Māori cloak gifted to Chairman Mao Zedong, school exchanges with Nelson and Tauranga and the visit to China of ten New Zealand youth in conjunction with the New Zealand-China Youth Federation. He was appointed Honorary Chairman of the New Zealand-China Investment and Trade Association in 2010 and Honorary Patron of the New Zealand-China Friendship Society in 2012. He founded the Rainbow China Culture and Media Group (NZ) in 2006 and The Simon Deng Li Arts and Culture Fund in 2012 which funds projects developed and selected by the Society. Mr Deng Li's funding of the Society's Mandarin language website contributes to understanding in China about New Zealand.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
DICKSON, Mr Gregory John (Greg)
For services to the cargo logistics industry
Mr Greg Dickson has been the Managing Director since 1997 of ISO Limited, one of New Zealand's largest nationwide waterfront cargo logistics companies. Under his leadership ISO has grown to be a substantial company and large employer in New Zealand. It is a multi-faceted service provider in logistics and IT solutions, providing services in ports throughout New Zealand and in Australia. ISO handles more than 12 million tonnes of cargo annually and has won awards for excellence in the industry. In 2011 ISO designed and built a new modular loading stand and was awarded the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in New Zealand award for Safety, Security and Environmental Innovation.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
FALLON, Mr John Anthony
For services to people with mental illnesses
Mr John Fallon has contributed to welfare services, especially for people with mental illness for more than 35 years.
Mr Fallon worked at the Department of Social Welfare in Dunedin in the 1970s and 1980s, working in a secure facility for children. In the early 1980s he worked with Health South Canterbury and became involved as the co-ordinator at Victoria Corner, a daytime mental health drop in centre. Through this voluntary work he became aware of the lack of accommodation for people recovering from mental illness and in 1996 he was one of the main instigators of The Victoria Trust, with the aim of raising funds to establish single bedroom flats to house such people. Through his fundraising The Trust was able to purchase a two-flat pensioner unit from the Timaru District Council and establish a self-contained Emergency Room. He then brokered a deal under which persons tenanted by the Trust could receive subsidised rent, power and phone. The Trust eventually grew to obtain 23 tenanted properties and one short-term Emergency Room. Retiring from his role as Manager of the Trust in 2012, a role he held for 6 years, Mr Fallon remains a voluntary Trustee.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
GLANVILLE, Ms Geraldene Barbara
For services to the blind community
Ms Geraldene Glanville has contributed to the blind and vision-impaired disabled community.
Ms Glanville has provided 18 years of voluntary service to the Board of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, holding many positions of responsibility including as the first woman Chair. She played a major part in the Foundation's transition from a benevolent welfare and service organisation governed under a public Act of Parliament to a member-driven, self-determining Incorporated Society. She was closely involved in many years of difficult negotiations, and work to ensure the new society met its legal and constitutional requirements and educating the new electorate in order that the society could function smoothly. In light of the changes, she has initiated the repeal of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act 2002. She is an active participant in the Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand Incorporated, advocating for the removal of barriers facing the blind and vision-impaired community, and has held positions of responsibility at both branch and national level, including that of National Vice President. Ms Glanville has been a major contributor to the Association's publications, policies and strategic plans.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
GORDON, Ms Rosemary
For services to legal education
Ms Rosemary Gordon has contributed services to legal education.
Ms Rosemary Gordon has been Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Council of Legal Education since 1999, responsible for the Council's operations and ensuring that the Council discharges its statutory responsibilities in accordance with the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 to the highest standards. She has dealt with a number of challenges during her tenure to date, including implementing changes to the Council's role, funding and responsibilities with the passing of this Act; monitoring Australian standards of legal regulations, reconciling them with New Zealand standards where necessary and promoting change to relevant regulations; overseeing the monitoring, restructuring and review of the Institute of Professional Legal Studies' course and balancing the Council's role as regulator with its statutory obligation to maintain the Institute; overseeing appropriate credits for overseas applicants to practise in New Zealand while also addressing the increase in applications for credits from those candidates. Ms Gordon has ensured the continued financial viability of the Council through her scrupulous organisational skills.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
HARTFIELD, Reverend Dr Vincent Jonathan (Jonathan)
For services to health
Reverend Dr Jonathan Hartfield has been involved with the health sector for 55 years and has been active in the Whanganui community.
Dr Hartfield worked at Wanganui and the surrounding rural hospitals from 1973 to 1996. He established the Specialist Obstetric and Gynaecological Department and was its head. He was also Acting Medical Superintendent for two years. During this time he helped establish the Wanganui Regional Hospice service, which provided home nursing care and two palliative care beds in the hospital. From 1997 to 2012 he was senior medical officer in the team that established Hospice Wanganui and continues to provide a hospice service in the area. He has been involved in clinical research and has published 26 articles in medical and nursing journals between 1963 and 1997. In 1986 he was ordained a self-supporting Priest in the Anglican Church. He has been a member of the Medical Ethics Committee for the Wanganui Manawatu region, the Wanganui branch of the United Nations Association, and sings in the Schola Sacra Choir. He is Chairman of the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship. Dr Hartfield is a Fellow of the Colleges of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Nigeria.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
HICKEY, Dr Susan Jane (Huhana)
For services to people with disabilities
Dr Huhana Hickey is the director of her own company, Pukenga Consultancy, which conducts research, advocacy and advisory work in the field of disability.
Dr Hickey is currently a Lecturer and Research Fellow at Auckland University of Technology's Taupua Waiora Māori Health Research Unit. She was the Lead Investigator for the Māori Development Research Centre from 2000 to 2010. She was the inaugural solicitor for Auckland Disability Law from 2008 to 2010. She has served as Chair of the Auckland Disability Leadership Group and has been National Advisor on the Disabled Persons Assembly's National Executive Committee. She has served on a range of governance and advisory bodies for various community groups, trusts and committees. She coordinated the accessible Marae project for Te Roopu Wairoa, the Māori Disability Self-Advocacy Group in 2009 and 2010. She was the indigenous people's representative for the International Disability Association steering group caucus during the development of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She was a foundation member of the Indigenous Disabled Women's Researchers Network International in 2003. Dr Hickey has been a member of the Human Rights Review Tribunal since 2010.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
HIPPOLITE, Mr Roma Ruruku
For services to Māori and health
Mr Roma Hippolite has contributed services to Māori and to health since the late 1990s.
As a business consultant Mr Hippolite has guided the Ngāti Koata Trust through two sets of hearings on Wai262 and Wai556, and from 2001 to 2003 was responsible for all facets of the Trust's operations including health and social services, commercial marine farming, commercial fishing, and preparing and implementing other business and strategic plans. He assisted with the top of the South Island plan for addressing Māori crime rates and assisting iwi-based organisations to achieve organisational effectiveness. From 2005 to 2012 he was a Chief negotiator for Ngati Koata settlement negotiations, following which he has assisted Māori health providers to review their services and entities and has provided performance improvement advice to healthcare providers. He has been a member and at times chairperson of several boards, including the Mana College Board, the Nelson Broadcasting Trust, the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, the Nelson/Tasman Primary Health Organisation, the Iwi Health Board, the Ngati Koata Trust, and Tainui Taranaki ki te Tonga. Mr Hippolite is also involved with the Steering Committee of Matua Raki, a Māori health workforce, and Te Rau Matatini the national Māori health workforce development NGO.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
JACOBS, Dr Susan Haas
For services to nursing education
Dr Susan Jacobs has contributed to the development of nursing education at the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT), positioning it as a leading provider of undergraduate and postgraduate nursing degrees.
Dr Jacobs has been a Dean at EIT since 1993 and is currently Dean, Faculty of Education, Humanities and Health Science. She was instrumental in the development of a joint memorial scholarship between Hawke's Bay District Health Board's Māori Workforce Strategy and the School of Nursing. Since 2006 she has been the Chair of the Stewart Centre at EIT Trust, a brain injury rehabilitation service. She was a member of the Management Board for Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, and was founder and member of the Editorial Board for Vision: A Journal of Nursing. She is a Fellow of the College of Nurses Aotearoa, New Zealand. From 2007 to 2009 she was a Tertiary Sector representative on the District Health Boards of New Zealand Nurse Practitioner Facilitation Steering Group. From 2005 to 2006 she was a Committee member of the Ministerial Working Party on Nurse Practitioner Employment and Development. Dr Jacobs was a member of the Nursing Council of New Zealand.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
LIMBRICK, Dr Elizabeth Anne (Libby)
For services to education
Dr Libby Limbrick has contributed to education services, especially in the field of literacy, for more than 30 years.
From 1996 to 2012 Dr Limbrick held senior executive roles at Auckland University, including Head of Centre at Auckland Teachers College and Head of School of Arts, Languages and Literacies. She has undertaken advisory roles for Ministry of Education task forces on child and adult literacy, and been a consultant to children's television development while continuing research into Māori and Pacific literacy and presenting papers at international literacy conferences. She was Principal Tutor at the New Zealand Hearing Association from 1988 to 1993. She developed and directed the national postgraduate qualification for Resource Teachers: Literacy. She is a past President of the New Zealand Reading Association and a founder, Chair and management committee member of the Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand, with which she is working towards New Zealand hosting in 2016 the 35th World Congress of the International Board on Books for Young People. Dr Limbrick is a Trustee for Duffy Books in Homes and the MG Martin Trust for the Education of the Deaf and Hearing Impaired.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
MAHOOD, Mrs Phillippa Margaret (Pippa)
For services to local government and the community
Mrs Pippa Mahood served 27 years on the Hamilton City Council before retiring in 2013, including four years as Deputy Mayor and chairing all major council committees.
Mrs Mahood has served 10 years as Controller for Civil Defence in Hamilton and was a member of the National Civil Defence Directors Advisory Group. She chaired the Hamilton District Plan Review sub-committee in 2013. In 1981 she was a founding member of the Waikato Community Hospice, and later was a founder and executive member of Hospice New Zealand. During her term with Hospice Waikato the service was expanded to include Rainbow Place with a focus on sick children. She has been a member of the Waikato District Health Board since 2004 and now works with the WDHB Iwi Māori Council and on the Board of Healthy Ageing. She was a founder member of the Waikato Coalition for Public Health, has served as a Trustee at Hillcrest Normal School and Governor of Hillcrest High School Board, Trustee of Opus Regional Orchestra Trust and of the Disability Health Expo. Mrs Mahood played a key role in enabling Hamilton city to be named host city for the 2015 FIFA Under 20s Men's World Cup.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
MANNING, Ms Victoria
For services to the deaf and disabled communities
Ms Victoria Manning is deaf and has contributed almost 20 years of service to the deaf and disabled communities, including through service in deaf mental health.
Ms Manning led a successful six year human rights case for a telephone relay service for deaf, hearing impaired and speech impaired people, and the resultant New Zealand Relay Service now employs 25 relay assistants and video interpreters providing continuous service. She worked on the development of the code of best practice in supporting disabled people in tertiary education 'Kia Orite'. She was the project leader at the Office for Disability Issues for the New Zealand Sign Language Bill 2006, the first piece of legislation in the world that recognises Sign Language as an official language. She led the Human Rights Commission's Inquiry into New Zealand Sign Language which resulted in 2014 in the formation of a New Zealand Sign Language Board and Fund. She has been a committee member and a Judge on two Deaf Short Film Festivals. Ms Manning has been a Board member of both Deaf Aotearoa and the Disabled Persons' Assembly of New Zealand and is a trustee of the JR McKenzie Trust Deaf Development Fund.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
MCKAY, Mr Iain Bruce
For services to New Zealand-United States relations
Mr Iain McKay has been New Zealand Honorary Consul to the States of Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming in the United States of America since 1994 and an active participant in the New Zealand American Association for more than 30 years.
Mr McKay is also Honorary Consul for Pacific Islanders in Utah. Born in Wellington and later educated in London, he served as Manager and later director of a family office equipment and office supplies company. He later worked at Brigham Young University, Bonneville International Corporation and National Association of Broadcasters USA. He is a member of the New Zealand Missionary Society, and while resident in New Zealand he served with the Wellington Rotary Club, Sir John McKenzie Youth Education Foundation, Radio New Zealand Religious Advisory Board, New Zealand Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Association, Friends of New Zealand Ballet and Opera, and the New Zealand Orpheus Choir in a voluntary capacity. Mr McKay was previously a voluntary advisor for the Mobil New Zealand Song Quest, now the Lexus Song Quest, a co-founder of the Leschetizky Association of New Zealand to help young New Zealand musicians, and served as liaison to the 2002 New Zealand Winter Olympics team to Salt Lake City.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
MCKINNON, Ms Avenal Beryl Elizabeth
For services to the arts
Mrs Avenal McKinnon has contributed services to the arts.
Mrs McKinnon was appointed as the first Director of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in 2005. Initially a small gallery holding exhibitions in various temporary premises in Wellington on a small budget, the Gallery has under her leadership achieved recognition as a major cultural institution with a semi-permanent home on Wellington Waterfront. The Gallery holds touring exhibitions, three significant exhibitions in Wellington each year, a biennial Portraiture Award competition, and a growing collection. Visitor numbers have increased from 16,800 in 2008 to 33,250 in 2013. She has played a central role in these developments, working to plan and organise exhibitions, commission new works and offer young artists work experience in the Gallery; build up a collection of portraits of significant New Zealanders; deliver talks to students, museums, art galleries and community groups; coordinate the volunteers and supporters on whom the Gallery depends and mentor staff; work closely with other museums and galleries to make portrait art accessible around the country, and raise awareness of New Zealand art at international meetings on portraiture.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
MUELLER, Professor Jens Helmut Friedrich
For services to business and education
Professor Jens Mueller teaches governance practices for sustainable performance at the University of Waikato Management School and as visiting professor at a number of universities around the world.
Professor Mueller founded the Students in Free Enterprise programme in New Zealand to enable university students to find employment and connect them with senior business leaders. He has worked with a wide range of healthcare organisations and many Māori-led entities to help them create a sustainable commercial platform. He serves on several boards, including PHARMAC since 2010, and the Pukehinahina Trust. Professor Mueller has represented the Ministry of Health at World Health Organisation events in the Pacific, has authored or edited seven books in the areas of governance, leadership and non-profit management, and leads two academic journals as Managing Editor.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
NICHOLSON, Sergeant William John (Bill)
For services to the New Zealand Police and Search and Rescue
Sergeant Bill Nicholson has contributed to the New Zealand Police for more than 35 years.
Sergeant Nicholson joined the Police in 1978 and from 1980 served more than five years with the Palmerston North Armed Offenders Squad. Following a period as Sergeant Officer in Charge in Marton, he took responsibility for Search and Rescue in Taupo and later in Palmerston North. Among his achievements in search and rescue have been his securing of funding for better communication equipment for remote locations across the Central District; his training of volunteer search and rescue groups and his improvement of relationships with partner agencies; his contribution to Standard Operation Procedures for helicopter service; his assistance to Coroners in boating death inquests and to disaster victim identification after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Following the Mangatepopo Gorge student drowning and Pike River Mine disaster, he liaised with Defence personnel, set up communications, assisted with body recovery and communicated with families at the scene. Sergeant Nicholson has been Chair of the Palmerston North Land Search and Rescue Committee for nine years.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
O'SULLIVAN, Mr Emmet Bede
For services to polo
Mr Emmet O'Sullivan has contributed to polo in New Zealand.
Mr O'Sullivan took up polo in the early 1960s. During his playing days he captained the Ashburton team that won the first Gould Cup in 1965. The Mid-Canterbury team he captained reached the 1969 New Zealand Savile Cup handicap finals and he personally won the junior team of ponies prize. While captain of the Ashburton Polo Club for almost ten years from 1974, his team won most of the South Island competitions and he led a South Island team to Western Australia in 1981. He organised annual coaching schools in Ashburton using top North Island coaches, held executive roles in the Ashburton Polo club and helped maintain Ashburton Show Grounds. He was South Island Polo Association President from 1987 to 1990, and later Vice-President and Life Member of the New Zealand Polo Association. In the late 1980s Mr O'Sullivan revived the Christchurch Polo Club and travelled to the North Island to play for six to eight weeks over three years, coaching and managing all aspects of the tours with his team reaching the Centennial Savile Cup final in 1990.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
PRYDE, Mr Thomas McNeil (Tom)
For services to sport and the community
Mr Tom Pryde has contributed to sport and the community for more than 50 years.
From the early 1960s, Mr Pryde has been involved with the Oreti Surf Lifesaving Club including serving as Club Captain, Coach and President. For more than 40 years has been involved with Old Boys' Rugby Club in Invercargill, including as President, and with Rugby Southland in various capacities. He is Chairman and Patron of the Southland Amateur Sports Trust, and was a founding Trustee of Sport Southland. Since the early 1980s he has contributed to the establishment of triathlon and multisport in New Zealand. A Life Member and Past President of Triathlon New Zealand, he helped secure the World Triathlon Championships in Queenstown in 2003. He was the founder and co-organiser of the Motatapu Adventure Race from 2004 to 2013. He is a member of the Multisport Committee of the International Triathlon Union. He is involved in numerous community organisations, including Southland Disability Enterprises and Trustee of the Halberg Trust. Mr Pryde is Chairman of the Pisa Alpine Snow Farm Trust, the Percyburn Viaducts Trust, the Paradise Trust at Glenorchy, and Central Otago Living Options Trust, supporting people with disabilities.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
RIDINGS, Ms Penelope Jane
For services to the State
Ms Penelope Ridings has been involved with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade since 1988, primarily in the Legal Division.
Since 2011 Ms Ridings has been Director of the Legal Division and International Legal Adviser. She was Ambassador to Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from 2008 to 2010, overseeing during her term the transition of the Post to the mini-spoke model in Europe. From 2004 to 2007 she was the International Trade Law Adviser and Head of Trade Law Unit. During this time she led New Zealand's involvement in World Trade Organisation dispute settlement and legal input into New Zealand's Free Trade Agreements. She was High Commissioner to Samoa from 2001 to 2004, having previously been Deputy High Commissioner from 1995 to 1998. Ms Ridings was a member of MFAT's People Steering Committee in 2011 and 2012, the Steering Group on ICT Strategy in 2007 and the Review Group on Retaining Talent in 2005.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
ROBSON, Mrs Barbara Anne
For services to health
Mrs Barbara Robson has made a significant contribution to New Zealand's health system for more than 25 years.
Over the last decade Mrs Robson has worked on issues surrounding the National Health Index, electronic health records, information sharing, consumer access to records and the governance of health information at a national level. Previously she raised concerns about the Guthrie Card collection, which eventually resulted in the amendment to the Health Information Privacy Code that strengthens the protections around the use and disclosure of the information derived from newborn babies' blood spot cards. She has been Co-convenor of the Federation of Women's Health Councils since 2000. She was a key figure in setting up the Consumer Advisory Group to the Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner in 2003. She has served on numerous advisory groups and forums covering a range of health issues. She has served on MidCentral District Health Board since 2001 and is regarded as one of their most valuable Board members. Mrs Robson has been a role model for women, encouraging and supporting them to become involved in committee and Board memberships.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
SEAGAR, Mrs Joanna Mary (Jo)
For services to the community
Mrs Jo Seagar has contributed to Hospice New Zealand for 15 years.
Mrs Seagar is a former nurse and a celebrity chef with a cook school and café in Oxford, Canterbury. She has been a volunteer hospice ambassador since 1999, when she first became involved with the Night to Remember national fundraising dinner. She provided recipes for hosts and raised awareness of the event and funds that Hospice New Zealand required for eight years, over which time thousands of dollars were raised to support hospice services. She continues her ambassador role today, travelling throughout the country at her own expense to attend events on behalf of hospice, speak to community groups and use any other opportunity, including her cook school and overseas work, to educate and encourage hospice support. She attends approximately 25 to 30 hospice related events each year. Mrs Seagar also uses her travel on hospice work to encourage communities to support Canterbury following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
SMITH, Ms Janine Laurel
For services to corporate governance
Ms Janine Smith is currently Chair of AsureQuality New Zealand and is Principal of The Boardroom Practice Ltd, a company focused on improving corporate governance in New Zealand and the Asia/Pacific region.
Ms Smith is currently a director of Steel and Tube Holdings Ltd and a member of the Fonterra Governance Advisory Committee. She is or has been a member of the University of Auckland Graduate Business School's Advisory Board, the Massey University College of Business Advisory Board and a member of the University of Auckland New Zealand Governance Centre Advisory Board. She has previously been a director of a number of companies including The Warehouse Group, Kordia Group, Venture Taranaki Trust, Bank of New Zealand, Airways Corporation, Kensington Swan Legal, and Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. She has also served as Chair of Custom Fleet New Zealand and McLarens Young New Zealand. She is well respected in business circles nationally and internationally, and was invited to present on corporate governance and strategy for the Commonwealth Association for Corporate Governance in the Pacific Islands and Malaysia. Ms Smith has mentored and trained a number of women in corporate governance over the last 10 years and is also a judge of international and business awards.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
SMITH, Mr Jonathan
For services to people with HIV/AIDS
Mr Jonathan Smith has been involved in raising awareness, compassion, quality of care for and the self-esteem of people suffering HIV/AIDS since 1994, when he disclosed his HIV positive status to highlight that HIV was an issue present in New Zealand.
Mr Smith was the first HIV positive person to be appointed Chair of the New Zealand Aids Foundation in 1998 and was closely involved in the first national Red Ribbon Day street appeal for people living with HIV/AIDS. He has raised HIV prevention awareness and made significant donations to Positive Women Inc and other HIV organisations through his annual Queen of the Whole Universe Pageant, of which he was Creative Director from 2004 to 2012. He created the Queen of the Whole Universe Community, a support network that helps lift self-esteem, confidence and well-being of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Takataapai community. He established the Positive Career Service, the first career counselling service for HIV positive people wanting to return to the workforce, and was a founding member of Circle of Friends AIDS Memorial Garden, the Treatments Action Group and Men Alongside, an HIV couples support group. Mr Smith also supports the Neonatal Trust (Wellington) Cure Kids (Auckland).
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
STALEY, Ms Susannah Adair (Susie)
For services to governance
Ms Susie Staley has held a number of New Zealand board positions over the last 20 years in both the public and private sectors.
Ms Staley was a Director of Tower Limited from 1996 to 2013 and chaired a number of subsidiary organisations during this time. She is currently the Chair of Chatsford and Birchleigh Management Ltd, the largest private retirement village in the South Island, and is on the board of advisors to Otago University Business School. She is also the Chair of iD Dunedin Fashion Week, which she has been instrumental in helping to grow from a small one-off fashion event in 2000 into an annual international week of events that boost the Dunedin economy by an estimated $2 million every year. She is a former member and Chair of Maritime New Zealand. In 2007 she led the delegation that negotiated the successful election of Maritime NZ to the International Maritime Organisation in London. Former directorships include Chair of Ngai Tahu Property Management, and director of Dunedin International Airport and PGG Wrightson. She is a past President of the Otago Chamber of Commerce. Ms Staley is considered a role model for women on boards.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
SULLIVAN-GRANT, Mrs Cecilia
For services to the community
Mrs Cecilia Sullivan-Grant has contributed to the community.
Mrs Sullivan-Grant's service to the community began when at the age of eleven she organised a concert in her local community to help raise funds for a family whose home had burnt down. In 1996 she helped recreate the 1903 Cyclopaedia of Otago and Southland, securing entries from clubs, businesses and individuals to create a snapshot of the region. As one of the first members of the Dunedin Mayor's Task Force for Jobs, she helped to develop a tracking programme for youth leaving school, the publication 'Hitchhikers' Guide to Apprenticeships', and apprentices graduation ceremonies, now used throughout the country. She designed the Earn and Learn Campaign to promote apprenticeships nationally. For more than 13 years she has worked as a self-employed advisor to persons with disability so severe that mainstream work has not been an option, and has helped set up and manage a portfolio of 40 successful small businesses. For nine years Mrs Sullivan-Grant was also an employment facilitator, enabling disadvantaged people to obtain and maintain meaningful employment.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
TAUFUA, Mr Ben Penita
For services to the Pacific community
Mr Ben Taufua has contributed to the Pacific community in the greater Auckland region for almost 30 years.
Mr Taufua is currently the National Senior Manager Pasifika at Massey University and Managing Director of Tautua Synergy Consultants. He has worked in a variety of strategic and advisory roles across health, education and other social sectors enabling him to provide a holistic approach to raising educational achievement of Pasifika students and contributing to a safe environment for the students, families and their communities. He has served on numerous bodies including the Auckland Schools Trustees Association, ProCare Community Engagement, Whānau Ora and Pacific Advisory Committees, Pacific Dance New Zealand, National Network for Stopping Violence Service, Anglican Trust for Women and Children, and the Pasifika Peoples School Board of Trustees. Mr Taufua's cross-sector approach has led to many achievements, including Safer Pacific Islands Northern Region Strategic and Business Plans, ProCare Pacific Health Plans, a Traditional Healing Project for Counties Manukau District Health Board, a Pacific Cultural Competency Framework and Policy for Child, Youth and Family, leading the New Zealand Student Teachers' Association Pasifika 2013 Board of Trustees work, and 'Taiala', a Pacific Response Report for Manukau Institute of Technology.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
TRAVERS, Mrs Geraldine Barbara Leslie
For services to education
Mrs Geraldine Travers has been the Principal of Hastings Girls' High School since 1998, during which time the school roll has shown a 60 per cent increase.
The school, having been struggling financially when she was appointed, is now in a strong position as a result of her prudent financial management. She has had a role in the school's major technology upgrade, the building of a new cafeteria and student centre. She has been Chairperson of the Education Link Group for Hastings' Sister City, Guilin in China and has forged new ties in the form of student and teacher exchanges. In 2006, Hastings Girls' High School was named the top state school in New Zealand by North and South Magazine. She has been a member of many groups and councils, including the Eastern Institute of Technology Council, the Ministry of Education's Language Immersion Reference Group, the Secondary School Staffing Group, the School Qualifications Group and the Principals' Council. She is also a former Chair of Education Link Group – Hastings District Council. Mrs Travers has been a Mentor in the First Time Principals' Programme.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
VICELICH, Mr Ivan Robert
For services to football
Mr Ivan Vicelich was a professional footballer and is New Zealand's most-capped international player.
Mr Vicelich made his debut for the All Whites against Uruguay in 1995 before going on to captain the All Whites and win a further 88 international caps in 98 appearances for New Zealand before retiring from international football in 2014. He represented New Zealand at three FIFA Confederations Cup tournaments and was an integral part of the team that qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Over the course of 19 years he has played for a number of clubs in New Zealand and overseas, including Waitakere City, Central United 100, Football Kingz, Roda JC 129, RKC Waalwijk 21, Auckland City FC, and Shenzhen Ruby FC. He also played for the New Zealand Under 17, Under 20, Under 23 national teams. He continues to play for the Auckland City FC and has become increasingly involved in coaching, and is a member of the Board of the Professional Footballers Association which looks after the interests of the current All Whites. Mr Vicelich was a member of the Oceania All Stars XI in 2008.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
WALKER, Ms Pele
For services to the Pacific community
Ms Pele Walker has been a Mediator for the Human Rights Commission since 2006.
Ms Walker was Executive Officer for LEADR NZ from 2003 to 2006 and is an accredited LEADR mediator. Early in her career she helped write the first government equal opportunity and sexual harassment policies. She was a member of Creative New Zealand Arts Board and Chairperson of the Pacific Arts Committee for Creative New Zealand from 2006 to 2013. She was appointed in 2007 as Director of St James Theatre Ltd and Trustee of St James Theatre Trust. She was Chairperson of Pacific Women's Economic Development Advisory Board from 2007 to 2009. She is a founding member and former President of the Wellington Central branch of Pacifica Inc. Ms Walker is currently a member of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal and a member of the National Council for the Employment of Women.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
WILLOCK, Mr Patrick David, JP
For services to agriculture and the community
Mr Patrick Willock was a councillor on the Gisborne District Council from 1989 to 2001, during which time he chaired the Council's Hearings Committee and Planning and Regulatory Committee and was responsible for bringing new district and regional plans to fruition.
Mr Willock is a Life Member of Federated Farmers having previously been Gisborne/Wairoa Provincial Chair. He is a director of Ravensdown Fertiliser Co-op and served as Deputy Chair until early 2014. He chaired the Remuneration Committee of the Board, served on the Audit Committee and chaired the High Williams Scholarship Awards. He has been Chair of the Eastland Rescue Helicopter Trust since 2001, overseeing the on-going successful funding and securing a local long-term named sponsor of this service, which recently opened a hanger and crew facility at Gisborne airport. He was appointed to the Board of the Eastwoodhill Arboretum in 2012. He is a voluntary radio operator with the Gisborne Coastguard and also chairs the Cancer Society 24 hour Relay for Life. Mr Willock has offered services to less fortunate and able members of the community, mowing lawns, obtaining groceries and liaising with local agencies on their behalf.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
WILSON, Mr Stewart Craig
For services to cricket
Mr Stewart Wilson has contributed to cricket in Auckland for more than 40 years.
Mr Wilson has served as Grafton United Cricket Club committee member since 1971. He has served as Club Secretary, Chairman and as President since 2011. During this time the Club has become one of New Zealand's biggest, with more than 1,000 members, and one of Australasia's biggest senior clubs with more than 24 adult teams. The Club has won numerous championships including the National One Day Championship in 1995. As Club Chairman he oversaw the founding and development of the Club's junior cricket programme. He also worked with Auckland City Council to initiate the building of a new pavilion that is now home to the Grafton United Cricket Club, the Ponsonby Rugby League Club, Auckland Football Referees Association and the Auckland and Districts Pipe Band Association. He is a founding Board member and Chairman of the Victoria Park Sports and Cultural Trust. Mr Wilson has also served as member of the Auckland Cricket Board of Control, as Auckland Cricket representative on the Eden Park Board of Control, Auckland Cricket Director and the Grafton United delegate to the Auckland Cricket Association from 2002 to 2011.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
WINGFIELD, Mr Blair Winton
For services to health and sport
Mr Blair Wingfield has contributed sporting and community services, particularly to leukaemia sufferers.
Mr Wingfield was diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia in 1981. His fight against this disease determined him to assist other leukaemia sufferers with a 'One Stop Shop' to support Blood Cancer patients and their families. In 1999 he became a Trustee of the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation (now Leukaemia and Blood Cancer Foundation New Zealand) and was Chair of the Foundation for four years. He was a Trustee of the South Pacific Bone Marrow Transplant Trust which put transplant units into Auckland and Starship Hospitals. He has coordinated efforts to diagnose blood cancer research and raise funds for haematology treatment through events such as the '100 Hole Golf Marrowthon'. He was also instrumental in establishing the New Zealand Cord Blood Transplantation Appeal Trust. He has been involved for many years at Pakuranga and university sports clubs as a referee and coach of rugby, cricket and soccer. He has also contributed to the community for the past 40 years as a Rotarian. Mr Wingfield established the Wingfield Medal at St Kentigern College, to be awarded to the pupil who exhibits pluck, endurance or the capacity to triumph over difficulties.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
WOLFE, Mr Thomas Neil (Neil)
For services to sport, education and the community
Mr Neil Wolfe has contributed to community services in New Plymouth and the wider Taranaki region in sports, education and civic leadership for more than 50 years.
Mr Wolfe played as an All Black from 1961 to 1968 and represented Taranaki on 71 occasions. He has continued to support rugby as Vice-President and President of the Taranaki Rugby Union, and Trustee of Taranaki Community Rugby Trust. He has been President of Taranaki Jockey Club, Chairperson of Taranaki Racing District, and Member of New Plymouth Golf Club and of New Plymouth Stadium Board. He has been involved with numerous upgrade projects for sporting facilities. He has served as Chair of the Board of Central School and held executive roles on various New Plymouth Boys High School committees. He is a past member of Massey University's L.A. Alexander Agricultural Trust Board which provides financial assistance to Taranaki/Waverley students for Tertiary Students, Postgraduate Scholarship and Teaching Scholarship in farming related subjects. He served on the New Plymouth District Council from 2004 to 2010. As New Zealand Community Trust Regional Advisory Committee Chair Mr Wolfe oversees the allocation of gaming proceeds to local community organisations.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
WOLFGRAMM, Mr Stan Carl
For services to the arts and Pacific community
Mr Stan Wolfgramm is the founder, Director and Executive Producer of Drum Productions which specialises in bringing mainstream and Pacific stories to New Zealand audiences through film, television and theatrical events.
For 17 years Mr Wolfgramm oversaw the stage management and production of Style Pasifika, from humble community beginnings to the 2011 Westfield Best of Style Pasifika Events to coincide with the Rugby World Cup finals week. The event has launched many careers for young Pacific people in fashion, musical, theatre and dance. He led six seasons of the television show 'Pacific Beat' from 2004 to 2009, the longest television series targeting 18 to 30 year-olds, which explored and presented latest styles, fashion, music, sport and technology from a Polynesian perspective. He has been involved in the opening of the Pacific galleries at Auckland War Memorial Museum, the opening event of Auckland's Vector Arena and openings of the 34th and 42nd Pacific Island Leaders Forum. He was instrumental in staging Film Raro, a challenge to filmmakers to make a short film in Rarotonga, using local people on camera and behind the scenes. Mr Wolfgramm has been tasked by Auckland City to produce the annual Pasifika Festival at Western Springs.
Honorary MNZM
To be an Honorary Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
LIU MAN HIN, Mr Marie Urbain Harold Michel Yow Koon (Harold)
For services to New Zealand-Mauritius relations
Mr Harold Liu Man Hin has contributed to New Zealand as New Honorary Consul in Mauritius for 27 years.
Mr Liu Man Hin is a well-connected business leader and Chair of Edendale Ltd, the sole distributing agent in Mauritius of Fonterra products and major importer of dairy products who has worked to ensure that New Zealand milk products hold a dominant position in the Mauritius market. At 27 years of service, he is one of New Zealand's longest serving Honorary Consuls. He has played a significant role in sustaining New Zealand's relationship with Mauritius, New Zealand's second largest market in Southern Africa, through his personal input, advice, facilitation of inquiries, and making available his staff resources and premises. Although the number of New Zealand citizens residing in Mauritius is small, Mr Liu Man Hin provides consular assistance to New Zealand tourists visiting Port Louis. He provides logistical and personal support to visiting New Zealand officials and Ministers, including the April 2013 visit of Foreign Affairs Minister The Honourable Murray McCully. A Member of the Association of Honorary Consuls of Mauritius and of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Liu Man Hin is well respected amongst the Mauritius Government and has ensured New Zealand's interests are well represented.