The Queen’s Service Medal
ABEL-WILLIAMSON, Ms Martine
For services to people with disabilities
Ms Martine Abel-Williamson has been an advocate, lecturer, policy advisor, and service coordinator for New Zealand’s disability sector for 22 years and has held governance roles on a range of national and international bodies supporting vision impaired persons.
Ms Abel-Williamson initially worked as a mental health councillor and later held roles with the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, including as Service Coordinator for the Auckland and Northland regions. From 2007 until 2018 she worked in various roles for Manukau City Council and then Auckland Council, including as Policy Advisor Disability and Strategic Advisor Disability. She is currently Treasurer at the global level of the World Blind Union. She is Regional UN Advocacy Network Co-ordinator of World Blind Union Asia-Pacific (WBUAP), having previously held positions with WBUAP such as Vice-President and Women’s Committee Chair. In these roles she has travelled the world to assist building international capacity in disability services in developing countries, as well as liaising in areas of systemic advocacy, specialising in access to the environment and transport. She chairs Auckland Disability Law, the only disability-specific community law centre in New Zealand. She has held governance roles with the Workbridge Council, the Guide Dog Society, Disability Connect, and Independent Living Service. Ms Abel-Williamson is currently the Vice-President of Blind Citizens New Zealand.
The Queen’s Service Medal
AITKEN, Ms Heather Christine
For services to karate
Ms Heather Aitken began teaching at the Reefton Karate Club in 1996 and continues to teach karate for five hours a week on a voluntary basis.
Mrs Aitken’s commitment to the Karate Club is in addition to her work as nurse at Reefton Hospital and involvement in running her family’s farm and gold mining operation. As a Branch Chief of the Reefton Dojo she holds the internationally recognised rank of 5th Dan Black Belt. Fifteen of her pupils achieved Black Belt promotions under her training. She has helped sponsor children’s karate uniforms and travel costs to camps and tournaments, including an annual training camp in the Nelson area. She has also attended tournaments in Japan, South Africa, Australia, and the United States with Reefton Karate Club members. As well as volunteering her time to the karate club over the years, Mrs Aitken has been an active member of the local community serving on the Boards of Trustees for Inangahua Junction School from 1994 to 1999 and Reefton Area School from 2000 to 2001.
The Queen’s Service Medal
ANDERSON, Mr Russell Kingsley
For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Mr Russell Anderson has been the Chief Fire Officer of the Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade for 15 years.
Mr Anderson joined the Fire Service in Port Chalmers in 1989 and transferred to the Alexandra brigade in 1996, becoming Chief Fire Officer in 2003. He has contributed to the welfare of his fellow volunteer firefighters and brigades at a local, regional and national level and is considered a subject matter expert. During his leadership of the Alexandra brigade he has ensured the brigade has met performance indicators, led succession planning, and overseen the brigade’s high level of professionalism and performance on incident grounds. Alexandra has been consistently the highest performing brigade in the Central/North Otago area. He was a member of the Regions Operation Committee, an advisory group on voluntary brigades, from 2006 to 2012. He served as President of the Central Otago Fire Brigades’ Sub Association. Following his election to the executive committee of the Otago-Southland Provincial Fire Brigades’ Association, he served as President. He was Vice-President of the United Fire Brigades’ Association of New Zealand in 2014, President in 2015/16, and was elected to the Board of Directors in 2016. Mr Anderson has also served as President of the Alexandra Aero Club for several years.
The Queen’s Service Medal
ARNISON, Mrs Ruth Margaret
For services to poetry and literature
Mrs Ruth Arnison is an instigator and coordinator of projects in Dunedin that bring poetry and literature into the everyday lives of the community.
Mrs Arnison has led a number of literature-based projects that have contributed to the successful application for Dunedin to be designated as a UNESCO City of Literature. She is the inspiration and driving force for Lilliput Libraries, which are oversized individually designed letterboxes with more than 100 in Dunedin. People are free to take or donate books and all locations remain well-stocked and are replenished by community donation. She coordinates the custodians who each look after a Lilliput Library at their gate. She is the editor and Chairperson of Poems in the Waiting Room (New Zealand), a national programme which distributes poetry cards in medical waiting rooms, hospices, rest homes, and prisons. These cards may be read and left in place or taken away for re-reading or sharing. Mrs Arnison’s project Poems on Steps is a joint programme with artist Sheryl McCammon and involves poetry installations, with the owners’ permission, in public places such as on steps and walls around Dunedin. This project won one of the top Keep Dunedin Beautiful awards in 2017.
The Queen’s Service Medal
BALLANTINE, Mrs Annie May
For services to the community
Mrs Annie May Ballantine has been a member of the New Zealand Federation of Women’s Institutes since she joined the Junior Country Women’s Institute as a Land Army girl in 1940.
Over 70 years Mrs Ballantine has been a member of a number of institutes in different locations. When she settled in Warkworth in 1980 she served as President of the local Women’s Institute for several terms and later as Secretary before she stepped down in her late eighties. She has contributed many hours of voluntary service to her local community, taking part in Women’s Institute activities and fundraising for charities such as the Warkworth and Wellsford Hospice. She has contributed many hours to sewing hundreds of white calico dolls for doctors to use in explaining medical procedures to child patients. The dolls are still required in large numbers by Starship Hospital today. Mrs Ballantine is also an active member of the Warkworth branch of the Red Cross and the Warkworth RSA.
The Queen’s Service Medal
BALLANTYNE, Dr Mary Jean
For services to women's and children's health
Dr Mary Ballantyne became a partner of Te Awamutu Medical Centre in 1981 and established a busy general practice predominantly caring for women and children.
Dr Ballantyne is a member of the Australasian Menopause Society. She established the Women’s Health and Menopause Clinic with after-hours appointments to improve access for working women and those with young families. In 2010 she was appointed to co-run a General Practitioner Gynaecological Clinic to address a backlog of clients waiting on routine, minor procedures. She was a driving force in the pilot group behind the establishment of the Kihikihi Health Hub, which provides a free GP service for the decile two primary school. The Health Hub has since introduced other initiatives such as dietary and dental advice. She has been a local representative in the Anglican Synod for the Waikato Diocesan, has helped with the Anglican Youth Group, and established a Ladies Fellowship meeting group. She has been an active member of Doctors for Sexual Abuse Care and as a Police Surgeon covered all forensic examinations in Te Awamutu for women subjected to domestic and sexual abuse. Dr Ballantyne was a member of the Child Protection Team for Child Youth and Family, reviewing placements of children uplifted from their families.
The Queen’s Service Medal
BOX, Mr Leslie Stephen (Les)
For services to the community
Mr Leslie Box has served his local community in Otago in a voluntary capacity for 49 years.
Mr Box has been a member of the Port Chalmers and District Lions Club since 1998 and has held a number of leadership roles including District Governor in 2010 and 2011. He has a life membership of the Port Chalmers Historical Society. He worked as a Locomotive Engineer for New Zealand Railways from 1964 to 2013. Over the years, he has volunteered his spare time to lead numerous projects and events including organising and running train trips for fundraising purposes, organising social events and children’s Christmas picnics, and has also provided support for Girls’ Brigade in the Otago area. Since 2013 he has been the Heads Up For Kids District Co-ordinator for Lions, a project that raises funds for allocation to under-privileged youth around New Zealand. As Chairman and co-ordinator, he led the project to develop the Lady Thorn Rhododendron Dell in Port Chalmers. The Dell was successfully developed from a disused quarry into a tourist attraction. This project commenced in 1998 and he is still involved in its ongoing maintenance. Mr Box is serving his 15th year as Chairman of the Port Chalmers Town Hall Society.
The Queen’s Service Medal
BREARLEY, Mrs Alison Jean
For services to sport and education
Mrs Alison Brearley has been a primary school teacher for more than 50 years, teaching at Manurewa South School from 1966 to 1993, and Hillpark School from 1994 to the present day.
Both schools have recognised Mrs Brearley for her service and contribution, noting particularly her pastoral care of ‘at risk’ children and ability to foster school-whanau relationships. As well as a classroom teacher and specialist teacher in Te Reo Māori, she has organised school sports, interschool sports competitions, and tutored Māori cultural and kapa haka groups. She provides mentoring and practical support to disadvantaged children, enabling them to attend sports activities, which helps to increase their self-esteem and build self-confidence. She has assisted a number of Māori and Pacific Island children to gain education scholarships. In the 1970s and 1980s she held a number of administration and coaching roles with the Manurewa Netball Association and the Manurewa Athletic and Harrier Club. She was President of the Maritime Māori Netball Club from 1986 to 1990. She was one of the first women to gain an Official Coaching Certificate from the New Zealand Amateur Athletics Association and was a track umpire at the 1990 Commonwealth Games. Mrs Brearley is currently a committee member of the Papakura Athletic and Harrier Club.
The Queen’s Service Medal
BULL, Mr Stewart
For services to conservation and Māori
Mr Stewart Bull has been a member of the Southland Conservation Board for more than 15 years.
Mr Bull was a member of the Whenua Hou Committee, established under the Ngai Tahu Treaty settlement, from 2008 to 2016. He has been Southland Conservation Board representative on the Murihiku Kaitiaki Roopu since 2008. He has been a founding member of the Fiordland Marine Guardians since 1995 and the South West Endangered Species Charitable Trust from 2004. He has been a member of the Titi (Beneficial) Islands Committee and the administering body of the Rakiura Titi Islands Committee for a number of years. He currently chairs the Titi (Beneficial) Islands Committee. He has been on the Board of Pomona Island Trust. He has been Chairman of Oraka Aparima Runaka and is currently Vice-Chair. He has worked alongside the Department of Conservation with many translocations, eradications, strandings, historic work, and has provided guidance on how to work in a culturally appropriate way. His work has helped strengthen Māori cultural understanding within the wider Southland community. Mr Bull was an Honorary Fisheries Officer for a number of years.
The Queen’s Service Medal
BURGESS, Mrs Dorothy Nola (Nola)
For services to people with disabilities, particularly the blind
Mrs Nola Burgess is blind has been involved with the Gisborne branch of the Blind Foundation for more than 35 years, holding the roles of committee member and Chairperson, and volunteer coordinator.
Mrs Burgess was responsible for establishing various groups such as a social group for the blind, an indoor bowls group, weekly craft group, and organised monthly concerts. She played a significant role in the opening of a Centre for the Blind building in Gisborne in 1991. She was instrumental in the introduction of a special section for Blind Craft at the Gisborne Agricultural and Pastoral Show. She raised thousands of dollars for Riding for the Disabled through Operation Hoofbeat, a fundraising horse trek between Gisborne and Rotorua in 1981. She has represented Blind Bowls at local, national and international levels and has won the New Zealand Champion of Champions Cup on six occasions. She has been a member of the Tairawhiti Disability Advisory Group and worked with Gisborne District Counil in forming its Disability Strategy. She was employed as the Coordinator for the Sunshine Service transport service for the elderly and disabled from 1986 to 2000. Mrs Burgess is a Life Member and served on the committee of Sunshine Services from her retirement until 2010.
The Queen’s Service Medal
CHONG, Ms Virginia, JP
For services to the Chinese community
Mrs Virginia Chong has dedicated more than 30 years to serving the Chinese community in New Zealand, particularly in Auckland.
Mrs Chong was appointed a Trustee of the Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust in 2014. As an active member of Auckland Chinese Community Centre she has taken the lead in organising many sporting, cultural, social and fundraising activities. Her association with the New Zealand Chinese Association started in 2001 and she served as the first woman National President from 2011 to 2014. She is currently a member of Women Leaders, a network of women leaders across the public, private and non-profit sectors. She has also had a successful career in local government as an elected member of the Eden/Albert Community Board Auckland City and its predecessor from 1995 to 2010. From 2005 to 2010 she was a Foundation Trustee and Council representative on the community trust tasked with raising funds and restoring the 120-year old Mt Eden Methodist Church. From 2012 to 2014 she was a member of New Zealand China Council Advisory Board, a group of individuals and organisations active in the New Zealand/China relationship to provide advice, support and funding for the Council’s work programme to progress the government’s NZ Inc Strategy for China.
The Queen’s Service Medal
COFFIN, Mr Raymond Kopuraehana
For services to the Māori Wardens Association
Mr Raymond Coffin has been involved with the Māori Wardens Association in Mangakino for more than 50 years.
Mr Coffin is Chairperson of the Maniapoto Māori Wardens Charitable Trust and engages regularly with the District and Regional Māori Councils to develop community strategies. He is responsible for the training and development of new Māori Warden officers. He has assisted at numerous events with the Māori Wardens, from Waitangi Day celebrations, kapa haka competitions, shearing events, Te Kawau Māro inter-marae tribal sporting event, koroneihana celebrations, and other large community events. Mr Coffin was involved with the New Zealand Jaycees Associations from 1964 to 1974 and was made a Life Member.
The Queen’s Service Medal
COLE, Mr Howard Daniel
For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Mr Howard Cole is a founding member of the Maramarua Volunteer Rural Fire Force (MVRFF) and is currently Volunteer Rural Fire Force Controller, having served in the Force for 25 years.
Under his leadership MVRFF has been active in fundraising to purchase equipment, improve facilities and meet operating expenses, including an initiative in which 15,000 hay bales were collected to raise funds. MVRFF deals with fire and other emergencies in the rural areas of Northern Waikato, with particular expertise in dealing with motor vehicle accidents on and around State Highway Two, which on average has a traffic incident every 10 days. Motor vehicle accidents are not currently mandated in the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977, but Mr Cole has led the MVRFF’s responses proactively in the absence of an urban Fire Service or the Police for many years.
The Queen’s Service Medal
CONNING, Ms Linda Dorothy
For services to conservation
Ms Linda Conning was appointed to the New Zealand Conservation Authority from 2002 to 2011 and has 25 years’ experience as an environmental planning consultant in resource management in Northland, Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty, establishing her own consultancy in 1998.
Ms Conning has undertaken ecological surveys and submitted reports under the Protected Natural Area Programme. She has sought protection for freshwater, coastal and kiwi habitats, forests, wetlands, and shrublands in district and regional plans and continues to do so. She was appointed to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Regional Water Advisory Panel in 2014 and the Rangitaiki Fresh Futures Community Group in 2015. She has been actively involved with the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, serving on the National Executive and its Legal sub-committee, representing Forest and Bird in the Environment Court, and leading a successful ten year campaign to protect the landscape at Whakatane’s Kohi Point from proposed development. Ms Conning has lead several native restoration projects on public and private land in Northland including Whangaroa Wild Ginger, and she has worked with others to raise awareness and educate people about kereru in Northland, and shorebirds in Bay of Plenty and elsewhere.
The Queen’s Service Medal
COONEY, Mrs Jocelyn
For services to the community
Mrs Jocelyn Cooney has supported a range of community organisations in Cambridge using her professional legal expertise in Trustee and Honorary Solicitor voluntary roles.
Mrs Cooney is a current Trustee of the Cambridge Safer Community Trust and the Cambridge Autumn Fesitval, and was a Trustee of the Waipa Community Trust for nine years. She was part of the group that initiated the formation of the Cambridge Health and Community Trust and remained on that Trust for five years. She holds or has held the position of Honorary Solicitor for various Cambridge organisations including Parents Centre, Grey Power, Cambridge Creative Fibre, Cambridge Society of Arts, Rotary, Cambridge Community House, and Riding for the Disabled. She is a Patron of Cambridge Lyceum. She was the Cambridge Coroner from 1996 to 2007. She has been a member of the New Zealand Law Society Cost Revision Committee for the past 20 years. Mrs Cooney was a foundation Trustee for three years at Hautapu School in Cambridge and has been on the Board of Trustees of Salisbury School in Nelson for the past eight years.
The Queen’s Service Medal
COX, Mr Roger Griffith
For services to science education
Mr Roger Cox has been involved with science education and was a long-serving member of Fairfield College in Hamilton, retiring in 2016 after 44 years.
Mr Cox was Head of Science at the College from 1985. He has been an active member of the Waikato Science Teachers Association, including time as Chairperson. He has been a member, since inception, of the Animal Ethics Committee of the New Zealand Association of Science Educators, which oversees the ethical use of live animals by students and teachers in schools. Since 2011 he has been a member of the Hamilton Science Awards Trust. He helped organise and run the Waikato Regional Science Fair event for 30 years, which involved hundreds of students each year. On three occasions he accompanied Science Fair students to the International Science Fair in Taiwan. More recently Mr Cox has been a foundation member involved in the establishment of the Kukutaruhe Education Trust. The Trust aims to develop a unique facility focused on ecological and environmental education and sustainability. Students from Fairfield College and other Hamilton schools will develop skills and understanding through hands-on projects in the environmental context of gully restoration. This project provides learning experiences in science, technology, Matauranga Māori, mathematics, and sustainability with pathways to employment and higher learning.
The Queen’s Service Medal
CRAWFORD, Mr Peter Robert
For services to the community and sport
Mr Peter Crawford has contributed to the Northland community through sport, charitable organisations and the accounting profession.
Mr Crawford co-founded the Whangarei Twilight Cricket Competition in 1978, which became one of the largest competitions in New Zealand. He then helped found the Northland Charitable Cricket Trust in 1986, which administers the funds generated by the competition to benefit cricket in the region. He was involved with the Whangarei Rugby Referees Association from the late 1960s until 1992, serving time as Secretary, President, honorary auditor, and referee assessor. He was a member of the working group set up by the Whangarei Catholic Homes Trust to oversee the Marian Heights Residential Village. He oversaw the financing of the project and under his guidance as the Trust Board’s Secretary/Treasurer/Financial Advisor, the Village has grown to 41 units and support buildings. He has served on the Residents Committee for 28 years. He was behind the Trust’s decision to buy a Whangarei motel property for emergency accommodation in the city and the development of an inter-church group to run this facility. Mr Crawford has contributed to a range of other organisations including the Northland Club, St Vincent de Paul Society, Whangarei Jazz Society, Kensington Bowling Club, the Marist Club, and the Northland Community Foundation.
The Queen’s Service Medal
CURNOW, Mrs Irene Eva Hiriwa (Hiriwa)
For services to Māori and education
Mrs Hiriwa Curnow has taught and promoted te reo and tikanga Māori, particularly as a teacher and Head of Māori Language Studies at Otumoetai College from 1981 to 2013.
Mrs Curnow was the first Māori member of the Otumoetai College Board of Trustees and was a driving force for the establishment of a school marae. She organised an educational Māori history tour of the local community for the Board of Trustees and staff members. She was a member of a panel for the Ministry of Education and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority promoting the teaching of Te Reo Māori and Tikanga Māori and its preservation in schools. She is involved with the Tauranga Teen Parenting Unit and gives freely of her time and knowledge to Tauranga Girls’ College and Tauranga Boys’ College. She has spent many hours producing kapa haka cloaks and weaving Tukutuku panels for the renovated wharenui at Tauranga Girls’ College. She has been a judge of the Manu Kōrero speech competition and a judge of regional kapa haka. She has been involved with national and international kapa haka festivals. Mrs Curnow is an active Life Member of the Māori Women’s Welfare League and a member of the Kiteraki Trust Board.
The Queen’s Service Medal
DEWSBERY, Mr Paul Frederic Gordon
For services to the community
Mr Paul Dewsbery has contributed to the community of South Canterbury for the past 40 years through a range of organisations.
Mr Dewsbery has been involved with the Mountain View Village Trust for 31 years, including eight years as Chairman from 2009. He played a key role in the development of the 95 home retirement village in Timaru, was a member of the Trust’s Board from 1986, and provided valuable personal support to the more vulnerable and dependent members of the Village community. He was on the Board of Presbyterian Support South Canterbury from 2007 to 2015, applying his business expertise to help the organisation remain financially sound. He was involved for 10 years in the establishment and leadership of the Kiwi Can personal development programme for primary school students in South Canterbury. He was instrumental in building a team to raise funds and oversee the programme and liaising with the schools involved. The programme was delivered to more than 1,200 children in its first year and was integrated into the Christchurch Regional Office of the Graeme Dingle Foundation in 2017. Mr Dewsbery has been involved with the Timaru Rotary Club since 1980, was President from 1998 to 1999, and has been a driver of community fundraising and service activities.
The Queen’s Service Medal
DONALD, Mr Kenneth Laurie (Ken)
For services to marine search and rescue and the community
Mr Ken Donald has been voluntarily involved with marine search and rescue for 58 years.
Mr Donald played a key role in the formation of a Cape Egmont Sea Rescue Trust. He held the role of the first marine advisor at Cape Egmont Boat Club from 1968 to 1994. During his involvement the club became one of the first to enforce an annual boat safety check on all boats using the club’s facilities. He played a key role in having a navigation light installed at Paora Road, Warea in 2007, which has improved naval navigation. He is currently Patron and a Life Member of Cape Egmont Boat Club, Cape Egmont Coast Guard, and Cape Egmont Sea Rescue Trust. Between 2015 and 2017 he was involved in reviving Taranaki Air Patrol to be able to search for vessels in distress. With the closure of Pungarehu and Warea Schools, he undertook the rescue of war memorial plaques from the school gates and established a memorial on the flag pole at Bayly Road, Pungarehu. With the help of Okato RSA and Cape Egmont Boat Club he established Anzac Day services at the memorial. Mr Donald has been a member of Okato Lions Club since 1977 and is a volunteer with Taranaki Hospice.
The Queen’s Service Medal
DRUMMOND, Mr James Henderson (Jim)
For services to swimming
Mr Jim Drummond has been involved in swimming competitions, coaching, refereeing and administrative duties in Christchurch, Gisborne, Timaru and Wellington for 62 years.
Mr Drummond has taught a ‘learn to swim’ programme at Hataitai Swimming Club every week since 1968. In 2015 the Club had a roll of 156 children participating in the weekly ‘learn to swim’ programme. He remains the current President of the Club, and has made efforts to ensure the Club fees are affordable for every family. He has held various offices with the Wellington Swimming Centre. He has been involved in local and national swimming competitions as a timekeeper. He has been a member of the Swimming Wellington Awards Committee and organised 20 weeks of free swim coaching at Miramar South School. Mr Drummond has previously been active in the New Zealand Sea Cadet Association and the Evans Bay Yacht and Motor Boat Club, and held various leadership roles with Swimming Canterbury in the 1960s.
The Queen’s Service Medal
FAUSETT, Miss Merle
For services to music
Miss Merle Fausett has been involved with music on a voluntary basis in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions for more than 60 years.
Miss Fausett was involved with choirs in Morrinsville in the 1950s and has been Deputy Conductor of Wesley Methodist Church choir since the 1980s. She was musical director of the Tauranga Civic Choir from 1979 to 1991. She has conducted the Silver Singers since 2014, a choir of retirees who perform at rest homes and retirement villages. She has been a committee member between 1988 and 2015 of the Bay of Plenty Symphonia and been Librarian for more than 10 years. She has been an administrator and event organiser for the Symphonia over the years and is a current Friend of the Orchestra. She helped establish and chaired Friends of the Orchestra from 2004 to 2014, who have supported the Symphonia with front of house duties, refreshments at full-day orchestra workshops, and fundraising. She was the Choral Director of a 100-strong choir for five successful ‘Last Night of the Proms’ concerts between 1999 and 2013 in the Bay of Plenty community. Ms Fausett was a driving force behind the establishment of the Rising Stars concerto competition for young musicians and served on the Board at inception.
The Queen’s Service Medal
GOODMAN, Mr Peter Charles
For services to the community
Mr Peter Goodman has volunteered service to various community projects in Putaruru and Nelson, in particular through brass band clubs and Lions Clubs.
Mr Goodman joined the Nelson Garrison Brass Band in 1953 and in 2014 was made a Life Member of Nelson City Brass. For decades he has contributed his time to teaching young musicians and conducting in Putaruru and Nelson. He led the organising committee for the 1997 Regional Brass Band contest in Nelson. Between 1975 and 1984 he was a member of the Putaruru Lions Club and over the years held the positions of Secretary and President. He has been a member of the Nelson North Lions since 1984, holding various offices including President. Through his involvement with the Lions Club he has been instrumental in driving a number of community projects including the fundraising and development of the Rangiura Retirement Home, the first of its kind in Putaruru, and the Putaruru Timber Museum. In Nelson he was involved with the development of the Maitai sports/bowling facility and volunteered for eight years to assist in the running of Founders Park museum. Mr Goodman carried out rostered volunteer Night Watch Nelson patrols in 2003 and 2004 in conjunction with Police.
The Queen’s Service Medal
GUTHRIE, Mrs Helen Margaret
For services to music and horticulture
Ms Helen Guthrie was Chamber Music Wellington’s Concert Manager for a number of years and has been a member of the Waikanae Music Society Committee since 1984.
Ms Guthrie was President of the Society from 1990 to 2015, during which time the membership grew from 200 to 600. She was also Associate Society representative on the Chamber Music New Zealand Board. She played a key role in purchasing the Fazioli piano in 2011, which has allowed the society to attract internationally acclaimed pianists. She remains Treasurer of the Society and was a founding member and Chair of the Society’s Charitable Trust for Young Musicians. She has been President and Branch Secretary of the New Zealand Camellia Society for 14 years. She organised the National Camellia Show in Waikanae in 2009. She was Membership Secretary on the National Council of the Camellia Society, has judged throughout the North Island, and won several awards at national and local shows. She has been a member of the New Zealand Rose Society since 1984 and was President of the Kapiti Rose Society when Kapiti hosted the 1992 National Autumn Rose Show. Ms Guthrie has been a national judge of roses for 25 years.
The Queen’s Service Medal
JACKETS, Mr John Christopher
For services to music
Mr John Jackets became Musical Director of the Bay of Islands Singers in 2009, which has since grown from around 30 to more than 60 members.
Concerts no longer rely solely on organ/piano accompaniment, but are embellished with a regular orchestra of semi-professional and professional players from Northland and Auckland, allowing the introduction of a wider choral repertoire for their three annual concerts. Mr Jackets also directs an annual community carols event at the Turner Centre. He has been involved with the Kerikeri International Piano Competition since 2007, becoming its Director in 2010, taking it from a national to an international biennial event. The competition encourages pianists up to the age of 28 to travel to New Zealand to compete. As Director he has overseen the development of the competition in all aspects from website expansion, programming, master classes, public performances, and engaging the jury of three international judges. More than 60 competitors from around the world applied in 2016. He is a member and has been Chair of the Church Council at St James Anglican Church Kerikeri. He also trains and conducts the church’s choir, which has grown in numbers and performs at key services throughout the year. Mr Jackets headed fundraising drives for the re-roofing of the church in 2014.
The Queen’s Service Medal
JOHNSON, Mrs Linden May
For services to the community
Mrs Linden Johnson has contributed more than 20 years of service to education, conservation and the Howick/Botany/East Tamaki community.
Mrs Johnson has volunteered for a range of organisations. Over the course of 20 years, she has been on the Board of Trustees for West Melton and Howick College Schools, and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for Howick Intermediate School. She has been the Secretary of the Point View Heritage Society since its inception in 2001 and has volunteered at the Howick Historical Village. Described as the guardian of Mangemangeroa Valley, she regularly volunteers to remove rubbish from the Point View Reserve and encourages others to do likewise. She is a lifelong member of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand as well as the Editor of Publications and serving committee member of the South Auckland Branch. She is active in the Auckland Council Pest Liaison Group and the Department of Conservation Nelson Lakes. She is a Guide for the Tiritiri Matangi Open Sanctuary and has volunteered at the Howick/Botany Trade Aid store for nearly ten years. Among her involvement with numerous community organisations, Mrs Johnson is also a street co-ordinator for Neighbourhood Support, holding regular meetings on community safety.
The Queen’s Service Medal
JOSEPH, Mr Richard
For services to the Lebanese community
Mr Richard Joseph was President of the Cedars of Lebanon Club in Dunedin at a time when it was determined the club was no longer viable and the sale of the Lebanese Community Hall was being considered.
Mr Joseph set about driving a number of initiatives over a period of 18 years to provide a lasting memorial to the early settlers and the Lebanese community of Otago and Southland. He led the Club’s committee in utilising the funds derived from the sale of the Community Hall property to carry out a number of projects. These included the Cedars of Lebanon Grove at the Dunedin Botanic Garden, the publication of two books, an oral history of the Lebanese community with copies held in various institutions around New Zealand, the installation of plaques at the previous Club premises and at St Josephs Cathedral, various memorabilia collections for local museums, and the Lebanese Digitisation Centre at Dunedin Public Library. He led the organising of a function called ‘The Gathering’ which brought together people from all over the world with connections to the Dunedin Lebanese community in a weekend reunion event. Upon the completion of these projects Mr Joseph placed the Cedars of Lebanon Club in recess and has remained the Club's President since 1998.
The Queen’s Service Medal
LAUESE, Mr Tafafuna'i Fa'atasi, JP
For services to the Pacific community
Mr Tafafuna'i Fa'atasi Lauese has contributed to the Pacific and wider South Auckland community for more than 30 years.
Mr Lauese is a current member of the Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board and has been a strong advocate for maintaining and protecting local parks, reserves and sports fields, and local arts and culture projects. He has been Chairman of the Pacific Peoples Advisory Council for Auckland Remand Prison since 2004. He is Treasurer and an Elder of the Mangere PIC Church. He is an Executive Board and founding member of the Mangere Cosmopolitan Club. He is an Executive Board member and Club Captain of the Aviation Golf Club and Secretary of the Samoan New Zealand Golf Association. Mr Lauese is a Justice of the Peace, has volunteered with the Mangere Citizen’s Advice Bureau, and provided translation/interpreter services for the Samoan community.
The Queen’s Service Medal
LEASI, Reverend Perema
For services to the Pacific community
Reverend Perema Leasi is currently solo Minister at Christ the King Pacific Islands Presbyterian Church Porirua.
Reverend Leasi has been involved in the Porirua community since 2001, having previously been Minister for St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Te Awamutu, where he worked to rehabilitate prisoners and help former prisoners re-integrate into the community. He continued this work on his move to Porirua and in 2015 he was recognised as one of Porirua’s 50 most influential people at the Porirua 50th anniversary celebrations for his contributions to prisoner rehabilitation and youth work. He is Chairperson the Porirua Samoan Combined Churches and serves as Secretary for the Samoa Ministers' Fellowship of the Wellington Region. He has organised community events including combined church services, youth sports days, and the annual celebration of Samoa Independence Day. He is patron of the Lavalava Samoa Language Class 101. Reverend Leasi has been Chairperson of the Wellington Pacific Bible College since 2002 and is a committee member of Wellington Pacific Health Services.
The Queen’s Service Medal
LEESON, Mrs Avis Annabel
For services to horticultural education
Mrs Avis Leeson has donated her time to creating vegetable gardens and orchards at more than 300 schools in the Waikato region, and from Northland to Invercargill.
As a hospice volunteer Mrs Leeson fell ill in 2007 and while recovering developed a project to teach children how to grow food. She initiated the project at her former primary school in Morrinsville and her gardens have since spread to schools from Karapiro to Hamilton North. Her project has reconnected children with the facts of how food is produced and in many of the schools this teaching is now accompanied by cooking classes for students to experience the process from garden to plate. Her project has been sponsored entirely by businesses and is staffed by volunteers. For a short period the New Zealand Red Cross committed to providing additional volunteers throughout the country to maintain her project. For health reasons she stepped down from active participation in 2014, with the project now continued through the Avis Leeson Fruit Tree Trust. The Trust secured an ongoing commitment from McGrath Nurseries to supply 1,000 fruit trees per year over a ten year period until 2024. Mrs Leeson continues to assist the Trust and is producing a gardening manual for the schools involved.
The Queen’s Service Medal
LONG, Mrs Carole Frances
For services to conservation
Ms Carole Long has been involved with the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand as a volunteer since 1979.
Ms Long has worked across all levels of Forest and Bird, including two five-year terms on the organisation’s Executive Board and Council. She established Forest & Bird’s Te Puke section, oversaw its development into a recognised branch, and later served on its branch committee. She was a founding member of the Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust and is the Trust’s longest serving volunteer, continuing to host fundraising events through her retirement village in Mount Maunganui. These ‘Great Kiwi Morning’ events are held annually and include bus trips and presentations on local flora and fauna. She helped establish the Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park, has been involved with the protection of dotterel nesting sites at Maketu and Matakana Island, and has volunteered for the Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Group. More recently she has been involved in efforts to protect Papamoa’s sand dune ecosystem. Ms Long has been involved with a number of New Zealand’s most prominent conservation battles, including the ‘Save Manapouri’ campaign of the early 1970s, and the establishment of Whirinaki Forest Park in 1984.
The Queen’s Service Medal
MACKEY, Mrs Hughina May (May)
For services to prisoners' support
Mrs May Mackey contributed services to prisoners support for more than 30 years until the age of 93 in 2014.
Mrs Mackey worked from 1948 to 1981 as matron of a number of hostels supporting and providing guidance to young Māori men and women coming to Auckland to seek employment or to learn trades. During her time at the hostels, she established the United Māori Mission Choir, made up of past and present hostel men and women, giving an annual concert at the Auckland Town Hall in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1982 she and her husband became prison visitors in the Department of Corrections Kaiwhakamana kaumatua volunteer programme, visiting prisoners on the inside, providing compassion and aroha and prayer support without judgment, and prisoners’ families on the outside, including accompanying prisoners to tangi and supporting them when they have not been able to attend. She visited Mt Eden Prison three days a week, and for one day a week each she visited Paremoremo and, until it closed, Auckland Central Remand Prison. Mrs Mackey was acknowledged in 2015 with the Missional Living Award at the Christian Network Unsung Heroes Awards.
The Queen’s Service Medal
MACKINTOSH, Mrs Mary Joan
For services to the community
Mrs Mary Mackintosh has been the unpaid Treasurer of the Anglican Parish of Kaiapoi, involving four churches, for 30 consecutive years.
During this time Mrs Mackintosh has contributed to all aspects of parish life. Over the past four years she has managed the financial requirements for the refurbishment and repairs to the earthquake damaged buildings of the Kaiapoi parish, which has involved dealing with the requirements of Heritage New Zealand. Over several decades she has been Involved with a range of community activities, on a voluntary basis, including Peninsula and Plains Orienteers, the Kaiapoi High School Board of Trustees, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Kaiapoi Borough School, the establishment of the Vickery Street Kindergarten and as a member of its committee. She was a member of the Kaiapoi Borough School Parent Teacher Association and was an instructor and committee member of the Kaiapoi Pony Club for several years. In 2007 she was awarded the annual Volunteer Trophy of the Peninsula and Plains Orienteers. Mrs Mackintosh has been a member of the club for 25 years and currently dedicates her time to convening and organising multi-day major events such as regional and school championships.
The Queen’s Service Medal
MAKI-ANDERSON, Mrs Maera
For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Mrs Maera Maki-Anderson joined the Murupara Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1988 and has been Chief Fire Officer for 13 years.
As Chief Fire Officer in a small low decile community Mrs Maki-Anderson has ensured the brigade has maintained its functionality and overseen additional training for new members. When she learned that the neighbouring Kaingaroa Volunteer Fire Brigade was faced with closure she managed a recruitment drive going door-to-door, rallied the community via a series of meetings, and set up the ‘Help Save the Kaingaroa Fire Brigade’ Facebook page. She arranged training to get the recruits up to speed and spent many hours of her spare time to run extra sessions for those unable to attend regular training. Her efforts in supporting the Kaingaroa brigade earned her the Pride of New Zealand Award in the Emergency Services category in 2014. After recovering from a brain aneurysm in 2016 and receiving medical clearance she returned straight to her role as Chief Fire Officer. Mrs Maki-Anderson was also involved with Murupara St John ambulance service from 2003 to 2005.
The Queen’s Service Medal
MANNING, Mr Donald
For services to sailing and people with disabilities
Mr Donald Manning helped establish and has been Club Captain of Sailability in Wellington for 15 years, an organisation that helps people of all ages with disabilities experience sailing.
Mr Manning was a key driver of the expansion of Sailability from one centre in Evans Bay to three total, with new centres at Seaview Marina and Titahi Bay. He raised money and lobbied for the centres, supported the sailors and volunteers, managed the logistics of storing and maintaining the boats, and worked on ensuring the sustainability of the organisation. Sailability Wellington is now the biggest Sailability programme in New Zealand with 190 sailors and 50 volunteers. Sailors from the programme have gone on to become national and world champions. He has been involved in assisting with the establishment of Sailability centres in Tauranga, Nelson, Napier, and Rotorua. Mr Manning has been involved with the organisation of regional and national sailing competitions.
The Queen’s Service Medal
MANUKAU, Mr Hatete Joe, JP
For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community
Mr Hatete Joe Manukau has been a volunteer fire fighter with Fire and Emergency New Zealand for 33 years.
Mr Manukau initially joined the Katikati Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1985 and rose through the ranks to become Chief Fire Officer in 2002, a position he continues to hold. He was a key driver and worked with other stakeholders to provide a high quality fit-for-purpose facility for the Katikati Brigade. He has been involved with Region Two, Bay of Plenty Coast Area, United Fire Brigades Association and the Auckland Provincial Fire Brigade Association. Within the wider community he has been involved with the Katikati RSA/Citizen Club, serving as Vice President and a committee member. He has been Māori liaison and a member of the Board of Trustees of Katikati Primary School and Katikati College, and a delegate to the Western Bay of Plenty School Trustees Association. He has been involved with college rugby as a coach, manager and referee, and JMC Rugby with the Katikati Rugby Club. He was an executive committee member of the Katikati Bowling Club. Mr Manukau is currently Chairperson of the Horahora Marae Trustees Association.
The Queen’s Service Medal
MARTYN, Mr Errol Walter
For services to aviation history
Mr Errol Martyn has been a member of the Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand (AHSNZ) since 1965.
Mr Martyn has contributed to the AHSNZ Journal since 1968 and assisted with its publication from 1976 to 1978 and 2015 to 2018, while also serving as a committee member. His first book ‘New Zealand Aviation - 100 Years: A basic information guide' was published in 1972. He has produced two significant aviation history trilogies, namely 'A Passion for Flight: New Zealand Aviation before the Great War' in three volumes between 2010 and 2013, and 'For Your Tomorrows: A Record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services Since 1915' in three volumes between 1998 and 2008. These are in addition to a number of other books and hundreds of contributions to historical projects, papers, and research articles on aviation history. Mr Martyn has compiled rolls of honour for the New Zealand Fighter Pilot's Museum in Wanaka and the Air Force Museum of New Zealand in Christchurch.
The Queen’s Service Medal
MCDONALD, Ms Glen Rohan
For services to art and the community
Ms Glen McDonald has been the Coordinator of Vincents Art Studio for 18 years, a community based initiative providing access to arts and craft facilities, skilled tuition, and materials.
Ms McDonald has maintained a place where people with disabilities, those moving into the community from institutions, the unemployed, people on low incomes, and anybody from the wider community can engage in visual arts from painting to pottery and sculpture. As many of those who attend the workshop don’t have a good sense of communication with others, they learn to use their artwork as a means of expression. She has worked tirelessly to obtain funding to maintain Vincents, often at personal cost during times of challenging funding periods such as post-Global Economic Crisis. Vincents Art Workshop has also run an art-based outreach programme in the psychiatric ward at Wellington Hospital for the past ten years and has previously run a two year programme at Arohata Women’s Prison. She helped establish a similar workshop, King Street Artworks in Masterton in 1996. She was a Board member of Arts Access Aotearoa from 2009 to 2016 and continues as a volunteer staff mentor. Ms McDonald was recognised with the Arts Access Accolade Award in 2016 for her contributions.
The Queen’s Service Medal
MCGETTIGAN, Dr John Francis
For services to rural health
Dr John McGettigan has been a General Practitioner for the Methven community for 40 years.
Dr McGettigan began as the sole doctor for the district, working from a small consulting room which was part of his family home. He was the driving force behind the development of a new improved facility in 1985, which now employs five doctors and several nurses and clerical staff plus hosting visiting specialists. The Otago University Medical School uses the Methven Medical Centre for trainee doctors to spend time in a recognised rural medical health hub. For many years he has accepted sixth year trainee doctors in the practice for ongoing education in the area of general rural medicine. The new Medical Centre has proven to be a key asset for the Methven community following the growth of the town through agriculture, dairying and tourism. He has worked closely with Mt Hutt ski field’s medical facility, offering training and mentoring to staff and assisting in emergencies requiring minor surgery and trauma treatment. Dr McGettigan has earned a reputation locally for his special care to the elderly residents of Methven House rest home, as a strong supporter of local St John, and his work within the Catholic community for the schools and Parish Pastoral Council.
The Queen’s Service Medal
MCNAMARA, Mrs Ruth Victoria, MStJ
For services to the community
Mrs Ruth McNamara has an extensive history of volunteer service in the Central Otago community.
Mrs McNamara was instrumental in establishing Central Otago Wastebusters, which provided recycling services alongside education for primary school pupils about the process of recycling as well as educational programmes on recycling and composting at Central Otago A&P shows. She was the Chairman of the Board for 10 years and is a Life Member. Her service to the Order of St John included leadership support to brigades through central Otago and assisting with yearly cadet competitions and youth camps. She helped establish a combined church group that has raised more than $50,000 for local causes through a fruit and vegetable stall in the summer. She volunteers at the local food bank and has worked in a range of other charitable roles, including Meals on Wheels, patient transport, after-school care, and cooking classes for families on a limited budget. Mrs McNamara is respected by her peers as an excellent administrator and a natural leader.
The Queen’s Service Medal
METTRICK, Mr Raymond Henry (Ray)
For services to cricket
Mr Ray Mettrick founded and led the Riverbend Camp Cricket Tournament for youth from 1980 until 2002.
In the 22 years of the Tournament under Mr Mettrick’s leadership, 1,350 teams played more than 4,500 cricket matches, until the Tournament was handed over to the Hawke’s Bay Cricket Association. The success of the Tournament outgrew its Hastings roots and expanded with games being played in Taupo, Dannevirke, Onga Onga, and Waipawa. Since 2002 he has been active in a wide range of programmes for young cricketers. He is a founding member of the Cornwall Cricket Club has coached five of the Club’s teams for 14 years. He has been a key driver for girls’ cricket in Hawke’s Bay and has coached numerous Cornwall Cricket Club’s girls team. He has organised indoor cricket competitions at the Hastings Indoor Sports Arena during winter for children learning to play. Mr Mettrick was made a Life Member of the Hawke’s Bay Cricket Association in 2011.
The Queen’s Service Medal
MILLAR, Mrs Susan
For services to conservation
Mrs Susan Millar is a retired entomologist previously employed at the Wallaceville Research Centre in Upper Hutt.
Since 1992 Mrs Millar has volunteered hundreds of hours to conservation projects sharing her extensive botanical knowledge. She co-ordinates and runs working bees clearing weeds and rubbish and planting native bush in the Upper Hutt and Greater Wellington Region. The projects have turned around failing native bush in Barton’s Bush, Domain Bush within Trentham Memorial Park, Te Marua Bush and Hulls Creek which are now thriving environments. She supervises and trains volunteers in planting native seedlings and removing pest species weeds. For years she has gathered local native seeds, raising them in the Forest and Bird Upper Hutt plant nursery. About 6,000 eco-sourced plants are grown annually in the nursery. She has been a member of the Wellington Botanical Society since 1998. She has received a number of awards for her conservation work including an Upper Hutt Civic Award for meritorious voluntary community service in 2007. In 2013 Mrs Millar received the Royal Forest and Bird Society’s Old Blue award for distinguished service.
The Queen’s Service Medal
MOLNAR, Ms Penelope May (Penny)
For services to the community
Ms Penny Molnar recently completed 20 years as a community nurse and social worker and has been involved with Nelson-based community organisations for more than 30 years.
Ms Molnar was Nelson and Marlborough’s Community Organisation Grants Scheme Coordinator from 1986 to 2002. She was one of the driving forces behind the foundation of Victory Community Health, which in collaboration with a local school founded the Victory Community Centre. She then served as the Centre’s Be Well Community Nurse for 10 years. In addition to providing one-to-one health service free of charge she also provided general assistance to support families in the community with referrals to other organisations and hands-on assistance. She was a founding member of the Nelson Multicultural Council. She is a member of the Women in Nelson Collective and helped establish the Nelson Women’s Centre. She was a Trustee of the Whenua Iti Outdoors Trust for 20 years. She is a member of the Community Workers’ Training and Support Trust and the Nelson Community and Whanau Network, and was a member of the Nelson Tasman Pasifika Trust for five years. Ms Molnar has volunteered with the House 44 drop-in centre and Rape Crisis.
The Queen’s Service Medal
NIND, Mr Ronald Frederick (Ron)
For services to the community
Mr Ronald Nind is an electrician by trade and has contributed to a range of community organisations in the Otago/Southland region.
Mr Nind was Treasurer of Invercargill East Lions Club for 13 years. He contributed his electrical knowledge to a number of the Club’s projects. He transferred to the Queenstown Lions Club in 2002 and remained a member until 2016, during which time he organised the Lions Club’s involvement in delivering Meals on Wheels for the Queenstown area for a number of years. He has been Welfare Officer for the Queenstown RSA. He has volunteered starting and timing races with the Wakatipu Yacht Club, including the Annual Donald Hay Yacht Race. He has been a member of the Kelvin Peninsula Community Association (KPCA) and has been a leader of the weekly volunteer working group. The working group has been responsible for track clearing and maintenance, native planting, wilding pine removal, and continual oversight and beautification of recreational areas around the Peninsula. Mr Nind is involved in a KPCA fundraising project, operating KCPA’s log splitter to distribute firewood to residents, and has personally delivered firewood to local seniors over the winter months.
The Queen’s Service Medal
NOFFKE, Mrs Elizabeth Anne (Betty)
For services to music
Mrs Betty Noffke became a registered music teacher in the early 1980s and continues to teach a studio of piano students from beginners to accomplished learners.
For a number of years Mrs Noffke would produce a musical play for her students to perform at an end of year concert. She would arrange music, make costumes, and fabricate sets for the play to be performed at a local Blockhouse Bay venue. She was elected to the Institute of Registered Music Teachers (IRMT) Board in the late 1980s and has held a range of positions. She convened the centennial conference in Auckland in 2002 in addition to compiling and writing a history of IRMT in Auckland for this event. She developed and convened the West Auckland Student Performers Group in the 1980s to improve access to performance opportunities for young students in the area. She launched the West Auckland Performing Arts Competitions (WAPAC) in 1990, which have been active for music and drama students for the past 27 years. She has been involved with the Blockhouse Bay Community Centre for 30 years and is an active committee member. Mrs Noffke led the initiative to acquire a performance standard grand piano for the Centre for the staging of WAPAC.
The Queen’s Service Medal
NORBURY, Dr Grant Leslie
For services to conservation
Dr Grant Norbury led the establishment and has since been Chair of the Central Otago Ecological Trust from 2005, which aims to support and further the restoration of dryland ecosystems through the reintroduction of native lizards and other threatened fauna.
Dr Norbury was instrumental in the establishment of predator proof enclosures near Alexandra to provide a habitat for Grand and Otago skinks and jewelled geckos and helped secure funding to expand the Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary at Aldinga Conservation Area. He has given advice to the design of predator control in many ecological restoration initiatives across New Zealand, including the Cape to City project in Hawke’s Bay, the Taranaki Mounga Project, and the Sinbad Restoration project of the Fiordland Conservation Trust. He has had science leadership roles with Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research over 30 years investigating the role of mammalian pests in New Zealand ecosystems. He is a member of the Takahe Recovery Group, was a member of the Grand and Otago Skink Recovery Group for 10 years, and an Associate Editor of the New Zealand Journal of Zoology for six years. Dr Norbury has given his time to talk to schools and lead fieldtrips and working bees for children to get hands-on experience with New Zealand species, particularly lizards.
The Queen’s Service Medal
ORCHISTON, Mrs Marjorie Frances
For services to music therapy and as a pianist
Mrs Marjorie Orchiston is a professional music therapist and pianist who has performed for many years for radio, television, the recording industry and for theatre.
Mrs Orchiston has been President of the Wellington Society for Music Therapy and has been involved with an extensive number of programmes in a variety of institutions for seniors. She has published two books, namely ‘We Used to Sing and Dance’ offering resource material and programme ideas to work with people with Alzheimer’s-type dementia in rest homes, day care centres and hospitals, and ‘With Music in Mind’ for use in rest homes. She has been involved with the Marsden and Chelsea Day Care Trusts since the early 2000s. She has sourced instruments from overseas for use in her music therapy with these Trusts and recently donated her piano to the Chelsea Club. She regularly attended the Marsden and Chelsea Clubs and provided music therapy sessions on a largely voluntary basis. She has been involved with various organisations as a pianist, music director or entertainer, including the Wellington Operatic Society, Wellington Repertory Society, Ngaio Review, Stagecraft, and Capital Entertainers over the years. Mrs Orchiston arranged and played accompaniments for the radio series ‘Listen with Mother’ for eight years.
The Queen’s Service Medal
PETERS, Dr Carolyn Rae (Carol)
For services to the community
Dr Carol Peters helped establish One Double Five Community House, which offers a range of services from a law centre to crisis social support.
Through One Double Five Dr Peters was part of initiating a waka ama programme in the community in 2003 and helped construct the wharehui, whareiti and cyber whare room at Te Puawaitanga Marae in Otangarei. She was involved in the establishment of Taitokerau Emergency Housing Charitable Trust and was an advisor from 2003 to 2006. She managed Taitokerau Community Law between 1993 and 2018. She helped establish the Otangarei Youth Project in 2013. She was treasurer of Northland Urban Rural Mission from 1993 to 2018. She helped establish Channel North TV to tell local stories and was a Trustee and Chair between 2006 and 2016. She was Chair of Regional Television Broadcaster of New Zealand between 2010 and 2013. Dr Peters established Northland Food Rescue in 2017, which provided 9,000 meals to families in need in its first six months.
The Queen’s Service Medal
POMEROY, Ms Geraldine (Gerri)
For services to people with disabilities
Ms Gerri Pomeroy has been a disability advocate for more than 15 years and as an Access Coordinator for CCS Disability has worked to improve public transport services for disabled people.
In conjunction with a local councillor and a CCS Disability Action colleague, Ms Pomeroy conducted an audit of the accessibility of Otorohanga’s public places, such as Council housing and essential services. The report’s recommendations were taken up by the Council and a series of accessibility measures were implemented. This audit was then followed by similar audits in other rural settlements in the Waikato region. She co-initiated the Measuring Accessible Journeys project, which identified that upgrading public infrastructure areas such as road crossings could lead to an increase in mobility aid users accessing public spaces by as much as 70 percent. The project has attracted international interest and representatives have been invited to speak at the OECD’s International Transport Forum. She has held a range of roles within the Disabled Persons Assembly, including President of its Waikato Branch, a member of its National Executive, and currently as National President. Ms Pomeroy is a member of the leadership group for the Enabling Good Lives initiative and was appointed to a committee responsible for co-developing the high level design of the new disability support system.
The Queen’s Service Medal
ROSS, Ms Alison Avison
For services to conservation
Ms Alison Ross formed the Lyttelton Environment Group in 1987 and has continued as Secretary to the present day.
Ms Ross was the foundation secretary/manager of Otamahua/Quail Island Ecological Restoration Trust from 1997 until her retirement in 2008. During her tenure she raised $500,000 and around 70,000 native trees were planted. She has been involved with Heritage New Zealand, co-edited a second edition of ‘Otamahua-Quail Island – a Link with the Past’, and secured a grant for a restoration plan for the Scott/Shackleton stables on Quail Island. Between 2003 and 2010 she organised thrice annual conservation volunteer exchanges with students from the United States and New Zealand. From 2008 to 2010 she secured funding to enable Lyttelton Environment Group to sponsor classes from low decile Christchurch schools to participate in planting days. She has been involved with local education at the Lyttelton Kindergarten and Lyttelton Main School, including as the foundation Secretary on the Board of Trustees and leading the move to have free swimming for the three local schools. Ms Ross was appointed to the Banks Peninsula Wastewater Working Party from 2003 to 2007 and has led submissions on resource consent applications and for several Environment Court hearings.
The Queen’s Service Medal
SANGSTER, Mr Paul Francis
For services to local government and the community
Mr Paul Sangster has contributed to the Golden Bay community for more than forty years, including serving in local government and as a foundation member of the Golden Bay Promotion Association.
Mr Sangster served on the Golden Bay County Council for four years, and on the Tasman District Council after amalgamation. He was Deputy Mayor from 1997 to 2000, and is now in his ninth term. He established the Golden Bay Employment Pool in 1982 to provide jobs during a time of high unemployment, and he ran the Periodic Detention Scheme for 14 years. He has a long association with the Takaka Drama Society, the Takaka Citizens’ Brass Band, the Takaka Rugby Club, the Golden Bay A&P show, and the Rockville Machinery and Settlers’ Museum. He was a foundation member of the Pupu Hydro Society in 1981, and remains as Secretary of this organisation, which returns profits from the small hydroelectric scheme to the community. He helped set up the Kahurangi Trust recycling centre to provide employment for the long-term unemployed, and was an instigator of the Picton to Golden Bay Heritage Trail. Mr Sangster is a regular community Master of Ceremonies, entertainer, and compere, and put up the community Christmas decorations in Takaka for 25 years.
The Queen’s Service Medal
SEARLE, Ms Rosemarie
For services to the community and sport
Ms Rosemarie Searle has supported the Kumara community through a range of roles and organisations since 1995.
Ms Searle taught at Kumara School between 1995 and 2005, during which time she organised school sports and coached children’s softball, organising and running six junior teams in her own time. She joined Kumara Community Trust in 1995, where she has been Coordinator of the provisioning contract for the Coast to Coast multisport event, involving the preparation of meals for some 1,200 contestants, and helped raised $200,000 towards projects in the community. After an accident in 2005 left her with a traumatic brain injury she retired from teaching and active sports and retrained as a Diversional Therapist. She was employed by Kowhai Manor rest home in Greymouth and took on additional voluntary activities, fundraising for and organising Christmas and birthday functions for residents. She continued with Community Trust work and sport administration, and took on the role of publisher of the community newsletter ‘Gold Trails’. She has been involved with the local Lions Club and has researched Kumara history. Ms Searle was a member of the Kumara Hall Committee from 2006 to 2015 and the Kumara Sports Ground Committee from 2000 to 2010.
The Queen’s Service Medal
SHEPHERD, Mr Richard Henry, JP
For services to Māori and the community
Mr Richard Shepherd has been kaumatua for a range of organisations including Whangarei District Council, New Zealand Police, Northland Kindergarten Association, local schools and his own hapu.
Mr Shepherd has been a member of the Whangarei District Council’s Te Karearea Strategic Planning Forum and as kaumatua has provided guidance on protocol for the official openings of buildings, bridges and parks in the district as well as at citizenship ceremonies. He was involved with planning the British and Irish Lions game against the New Zealand Barbarians in Whangarei in 2017. He was involved with the Youth Development Programme at Tikiguna High School Service Academy and was a member of a team of veterans that designed and organised a character building programme. He has worked on developing a historical education trip for students to South East Asia to follow in the footsteps of Vietnam War veterans. He was involved with the veterans claim as part of Ngapuhi Treaty of Waitangi Claims from 2009 to 2016. He is an ambassador for the Northland Emergency Service Trust and has worked on building relationships between the Trust and Māori throughout Te Tai Tokerau. Mr Shepherd was a member of the New Zealand Police Commissioners Iwi Forum from 2012 to 2016.
The Queen’s Service Medal
SHEPPARD, Mr Allan
For services to conservation
Mr Allan Sheppard and his wife Mrs Glennis Sheppard have been involved with a range of environmental endeavours in Upper Hutt and Greater Wellington region.
Mr and Mrs Sheppard’s volunteer work has encompassed efforts to support native forest regeneration by planting seedlings, destroying invasive plants, removing rubbish, and maintaining pest traps. They have carried out this work on their own and as members of the Wellington Botanical Society since 1992 and the Upper Hutt Branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Society since 1987. They have made significant contributions to controlling predator populations in Trentham Memorial Park, Keith George Memorial Park, Witako Reserve, Tunnel Gully Reserve, and Te Marua Reserve. They have been members of Friends of Mana Island Inc since 2008 and contribute to working bees to maintain the environmentally protected Mana Island. They volunteer with Plateau School, their local primary school in Te Marua, where they hold a weekly practical tutorial in the school gardens helping children to plant, care for and harvest fruit and vegetable crops. Mr Sheppard photographs the volunteer work being done for publication in newsletters and on websites. He also maintains the history of the Upper Hutt Forest and Bird Branch. Mr and Mrs Sheppard have received Forest and Bird’s Old Blue award for their efforts.
The Queen’s Service Medal
SHEPPARD, Mrs Glennis
For services to conservation
Mrs Glennis Sheppard and her husband Mr Allan Sheppard have been involved with a range of environmental endeavours in Upper Hutt and Greater Wellington region.
Mr and Mrs Sheppard’s volunteer work has encompassed efforts to support native forest regeneration by planting seedlings, destroying invasive plants, removing rubbish, and maintaining pest traps. They have carried out this work on their own and as members of the Wellington Botanical Society since 1992 and the Upper Hutt Branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Society since 1987. They have made significant contributions to controlling predator populations in Trentham Memorial Park, Keith George Memorial Park, Witako Reserve, Tunnel Gully Reserve, and Te Marua Reserve. They have been members of Friends of Mana Island Inc since 2008 and contribute to working bees to maintain the environmentally protected Mana Island. They volunteer with Plateau School, their local primary school in Te Marua, where they hold a weekly practical tutorial in the school gardens helping children to plant, care for and harvest fruit and vegetable crops. Mr and Mrs Sheppard have received Forest and Bird’s Old Blue award for their efforts.
The Queen’s Service Medal
SINGH, Mrs Mavis Lata
For services to migrants and the community
Mrs Mavis Singh launched the women’s organisation New Zealand Sanatan Naari Sabha when she migrated to New Zealand in 2001, with the purpose of looking after the welfare of migrant families.
Mrs Singh has been President of the organisation since inception and has organised conventions, workshops for social problems, and cultural activities. Conventions on cultural-based social issues faced by migrants have been held annually, which provide education on how to approach issues such as domestic violence, child and elder abuse, youth problems, and nutritional related diseases. She is a teacher at Alfriston College, where she organises Indian culture and dance groups and Hindi language week at the school. Within the wider community Mrs Singh has been Chairperson of Aotearoa Tertiary Institute Advisory Board, member of Auckland Diwali Committee and Advisory Board, member of Hindi Language and Culture Trust, and Coordinator of various voluntary projects with organisations including City Mission and New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.
The Queen’s Service Medal
SLADE, Reverend Lucky Richard, JP
For services to the Samoan community
Reverend Lucky Slade has been a Church Minister in New Zealand for 33 years, during which time he has led the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa in Te Atatu.
Reverend Slade is currently Chair of the Ekalesia Fa’apotopotoga Kerisiano i Samoa (EFKS) New Zealand Board, which is working with the Ministry of Education to roll out early childhood education playgroups throughout EKFS churches throughout New Zealand. He has developed programmes within the Church to provide services for men, women, and youth. He was Director of Christian Education for EFKS from 1979 to 1984, which involved work in the South Pacific. He is also involved as Reverend Elder for 11 other Samoan congregational churches in West Auckland. He has led a number of national remembrance services for the Samoan community, including the Museum Service commemorating 100 years of military service in 2015, and Samoan Tsunami Commemoration services. Within the wider community Reverend Slade has been a member of the Board of Trustees at Rutherford Primary School and Club Captain of Chamberlain Golf Club.
The Queen’s Service Medal
SLADE, Mrs Margaret Jean
For services to conservation
Mrs Margaret Slade and her husband Mr Stuart Slade were foundation members of the Nukuhou Saltmarsh Care Group in 2003.
The Saltmarsh is home to rare and endangered bird species and Mr and Mrs Slade have led the way in restoring the saltmarsh to a healthy state. This has included establishing and maintaining trap-lines, walkways and signage, the clearing of weed species and rubbish, and keeping records of species numbers. The group has won a number of awards for their work and have extended to include care for the Nukuhou River margins and Uretara Island in Ōhiwa Harbour. The couple are skilled potters and have created and donated life-sized replicas of many birds found within the Saltmarsh, as well as an educational display for the lifecycle of whitebait. Their work has also been featured in parks and walkways in Whakatane, as well as displays for The Kiwi Trust and Matata Wetlands. They are both active members of Nga Tapuwae-o-Taneatua Tramping Club. Mr and Mrs Slade have been key instigators of a project to re-establish native bush and a two kilometre long scenic walk in the strip of land between Wainui Road and the adjacent river.
The Queen’s Service Medal
SLADE, Mr Stuart Victor
For services to conservation
Mr Stuart Slade and his wife Mrs Margaret Slade were foundation members of the Nukuhou Saltmarsh Care Group in 2003.
The Saltmarsh is home to rare and endangered bird species and Mr and Mrs Slade have led the way in restoring the saltmarsh to a healthy state. This has included establishing and maintaining trap-lines, walkways and signage, the clearing of weed species and rubbish, and keeping records of species numbers. The group has won a number of awards for their work and have extended to include care for the Nukuhou River margins and Uretara Island in Ōhiwa Harbour. The couple are skilled potters and have created and donated life-sized replicas of many birds found within the Saltmarsh, as well as an educational display for the lifecycle of whitebait. Their work has also been featured in parks and walkways in Whakatane, as well as displays for The Kiwi Trust and Matata Wetlands. They are members of Nga Tapuwae-o-Taneatua Tramping Club and Mr Slade served as President, overseeing working bees to keep the Pakihi track open until it was developed into part of the Motu Trails Cycleway. Mr and Mrs Slade have been key instigators of a project to re-establish native bush and a two kilometre long scenic walk in the strip of land between Wainui Road and the adjacent river.
The Queen’s Service Medal
TIMMS, Mrs Barbara Ann
For services to the community
Mrs Barbara Timms has been Treasurer of the Horowhenua District War Memorials Project Committee Trust who have run the ‘Adopt an Anzac’ project.
Mrs Timms played a key role in the Trust’s redevelopment of the Levin Cenotaph in 2009. She took on the Poppy Box Plaza component of the project and arranged for all 25 Poppy Boxes to be sponsored or supported by donations for installation. She has played a key role in trying to prevent the Levin RSA from closing as a member of the fundraising committee established in May 2015. She established the 150 club in August 2015, which has raised funds to repay loans and enabled the RSA to remain open. She became Treasurer of the Levin RSA in 2015 and has since coordinated the maintenance and restructuring of the clubrooms. She has been involved with the Horowhenua Breathe Easy Support Group since 2007 when she was elected as Treasurer, a role she has held for eight years. Mrs Timms has also been involved with Netball Horowhenua Association for 56 years including coordinating the construction and development of the premises, at times as a committee member, Treasurer or Umpire, and as the current Patron.
The Queen’s Service Medal
TRAN, Mr Thanh
For services to philanthropy and Asian communities
Mr Thanh Tran is a businessman who has philanthropically supported a range of organisations and causes.
Mr Tran has been Chairman of the New Zealand Teochew Nang Association since 2011 and was Chairman of the New Zealand Chao Zhou Association from 2010 to 2011. He purchased 10 acres of land in Bombay Hill for the construction of Buddhist temple and donated money towards the construction of the Meng Leng Temple, serving as Deputy Chairman of the Temple’s Trust from 1995 to 2010. He has been an Honorary Advisor to the Auckland Cambodian Chinese Kung Luck Association, Honorary Chairman of the New Zealand Chinese Blossom Art Troupe Association, Honorary President of the New Zealand Chinese Woman Association, and an Honorary Advisor for the New Zealand Chinese Federation of Literary and Art Circles Inc. He has been Honorary President of the Oceania Federation of Chinese Organisations from Vietnam Cambodia and Laos Inc. He has personally donated $10,000 to the Starship Foundation and organised fundraising events which raised a further $70,000 for the children’s hospital. Mr Tran personally donated $10,000 to the Christchurch earthquake relief fund, and has donated to flood relief funds in Vietnam and China.
The Queen’s Service Medal
TULLOCH, Mrs Catherine (Cathie)
For services to seniors and people with disabilities
Mrs Cathie Tulloch and her husband Rob Tulloch have supported the Whangarei community through volunteer work for a number of years.
Mr and Mrs Tulloch have been involved with the Forget Me Not Adult Day Centre in Tikipunga since shortly after it was opened in 1994. They were instrumental in the building of the Centre. As Chairperson, Mrs Tulloch along with a dedicated team led fundraising that resulted in a purpose-built Centre that was therapeutic, educational and fun. The Centre has provided quality care for more than 9,200 patient visits annually from clients ranging from 19 to 94 years of age, including those with disabilities, the elderly and frail, and those with memory loss or head injuries. The Centre has a capacity for 40 client visits a day and delivers a programme of activities providing motivation, rehabilitation, life skills, diversional therapy, holistic exercise and socialisation. Mrs Tulloch has been a member of the Centre’s Board throughout and is currently Secretary. Mr and Mrs Tulloch have also supported the Whangarei Stroke Club for many years, with Mrs Tulloch being an advisor to the Club’s Treasurer. Mrs Tulloch also supports elderly and disabled members of the community requiring assistance of facing financial difficulties.
The Queen’s Service Medal
TULLOCH, Mr Robert (Rob)
For services to seniors and people with disabilities
Mr Rob Tulloch and his wife Cathie Tulloch have supported the Whangarei community through volunteer work for a number of years.
Mr and Mrs Tulloch have been involved with the Forget Me Not Adult Day Centre in Tikipunga since shortly after it was opened in 1994. They were instrumental in the building of the Centre. Mrs Tulloch and a dedicated team led fundraising that resulted in a purpose-built Centre that was therapeutic, educational and fun. The Centre has provided quality care for more than 9,200 patient visits annually from clients ranging from 19 to 94 years of age, including those with disabilities, the elderly and frail, and those with memory loss or head injuries. The Centre has a capacity for 40 client visits a day and delivers a programme of activities providing motivation, rehabilitation, life skills, diversional therapy, holistic exercise and socialisation. Clients are driven to and from their home each day by the Centre’s van service, of which Mr Tulloch has been the main volunteer driver throughout. Mr and Mrs Tulloch have also supported the Whangarei Stroke Club for many years.
The Queen’s Service Medal
UTTING, Mrs Elaine Olive Dawn, JP
For services to the community and netball
Mrs Elaine Utting has been involved with Netball North Harbour for 63 years as a player, coach, umpire, Treasurer for 10 years, and President for four years.
Mrs Utting was on the committee of the inaugural Golden Oldies Netball Tournament held at Orewa Domain in 2012 and was responsible for organising North Shore Primary School Netball Competitions in the early 1970s. She has been involved with the New Zealand 60’s Up movement, having been Secretary and Entertainment Officer of the Takapuna branch for 13 years and Treasurer for the national organisation covering 34 branches. She organised a regional meeting of all North Shore branches to assist each other with bus trips. She has been involved with Red Cross Meals on Wheels for 50 years as both a driver and roster coordinator. She has been involved with Hospice North Shore for 27 years.She is Treasurer of Greenhithe Residents Association and a Neighbourhood Support Street Coordinator. She is a member of the Auckland Schools Community Education Association and has run evening business classes for the community for more than five years. Mrs Utting has served as a Justice of the Peace since 2004.
The Queen’s Service Medal
VAN, Mrs Beverley Doreen
For services to bonsai
Mrs Beverley Van has grown bonsai since the 1970s and first initiated bonsai beginners’ classes at the Avice Hill Centre in 1992, which led to the formation of the Avon Bonsai Society in 1993.
Since 1993 Mrs Van has served as either a committee member or President of the Avon Bonsai Society and has made her home available for committee meetings and workshops. She was made an Honorary Life Member of the Society. She delivered talks on growing bonsai to garden clubs in Christchurch and further afield in such places as Greymouth. She has mounted individual bonsai displays in addition to displays for the Christchurch Festival of Flowers. She has participated in and judged club displays. She produced a book with her late husband titled ‘Bonsai Growing in New Zealand for the Absolute Beginner (and others)’ and currently runs a bonsai website. Mrs Van has also developed her skills as a potter, studying the classical forms required for traditional Japanese and Chinese bonsai pots, and regularly produces high quality ceramics for all styles of bonsai presentation fulfilling the need for local hobbyists.
The Queen’s Service Medal
WADE, Mrs Margaret Lyn (Lyn)
For services to conservation
Mrs Lyn Wade is Chair of the Little Barrier Island (Hauturu) Supporters Trust, which is responsible for seeking practical and financial support for the conservation of Te Hauturu o Toi/Little Barrier Island, a 3,000 hectare island in the Hauraki Gulf now free of mammalian pests.
Mrs Wade has been involved in the Trust since 1997 and has been Chair since 2015. The Trust has raised a significant sum of money to augment the Department of Conservation’s weed control programme on the island. She has coordinated volunteer groups for regular working weekends on the island and helped recruit new volunteers. She has been involved with translocations of birds and other animals. She has contributed to the management of the head start programme for tuatara on Hauturu and participated in a field survey to determine that tuatara can persist on Hauturu without human intervention. She has organised and participated in several kiwi call count surveys to estimate kiwi population size on Hauturu. Mrs Wade has undertaken several botanical field trips, assisted the Department of Conservation as a volunteer during kākāpō breeding season, and the collection of seeds and plant identification in response to the myrtle rust threat.
The Queen’s Service Medal
WILLIAMS, Mrs Jane Mary
For services to the arts and education
Mrs Jane Williams has been Chairperson, among other committee positions, of the Auckland Decorative and Fine Arts Society.
Mrs Williams has been a leading member of the liaison committee between the Society and the James Wallace Arts Centre. She has volunteered as a docent at Pah Homestead and been responsible for the stewardship of the summer intern programme, which provides opportunities for tertiary students seeking experience in Art Collection and Curatorial Studies. She was a key driver behind the restoration of the seventeenth century French engraving print ‘The Mocking of Christ’, which now hangs at the Auckland Art Gallery. She has held a range of Trustee and other committee positions with the Diocesan School for Girls. She was responsible for fundraising for the purchase of the Boarding House for the school and was a Trustee from 1987 to 2007. She helped establish the Diocesan Heritage Foundation in 2001 and was co-Chair of the Centennial Planning Committee from 1999 to 2004. She has been involved with Guild of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra since 1986. Mrs Williams has supported an initiative to create successful sponsorship openings for the orchestra through high profile events, while also generating funds for orchestral experiences for children, particularly in low decile schools.
The Queen’s Service Medal
WILSON, Mr Warwick Sutherland
For services to conservation
Mr Warwick Wilson made available his land in the Coromandel for the establishment of New Zealand’s first community-run kiwi sanctuary.
Mr Wilson purchased 456 hectares of coastal land on the Kuaotunu Peninsula 50 years ago, and recognising the conservation value of the native bush and local fauna, chose not to develop or farm the land. In 1996 he welcomed a local initiative to establish a kiwi sanctuary on the Peninsula. Since then, he has provided unrestricted access to the land and rent-free accommodation for the project managers, remained deeply involved as a Trustee of the Project Kiwi Trust, and set up a trust to protect the land from future sale or development. He has been an advocate for kiwi conservation, participating in fundraising and providing direct financial assistance to the project. Mr Wilson has welcomed and encouraged volunteers to participate in the Trust’s activities, and participates in National hui to share his knowledge.
The Honorary Queen’s Service Medal
CHEN, Ms Bingyu
For services to Chinese culture and arts
Ms Bingyu Chen is President of the Bridge of Love Association, which she founded in 2011 to encourage Chinese immigrants to maintain Chinese culture in New Zealand as well as adopt local customs.
In 2004 Ms Chen initiated and helped establish the New Zealand Chinese Bonsai Society, becoming inaugural Secretary-General. From 2008 to 2016 she served as President of the Society and during this time she organised more than 120 exhibitions. She organised exchange activities with other bonsai associations in Auckland, Hamilton, and Tauranga. Since 2015 she has organised exhibitions for the annual Whau Culture and Art Exchange. Since 1999 she and her husband have delivered free lectures on bonsai. She began organising home-based bonsai exhibitions in 2000 and joined the Kiwi Bonsai Association in 2003. She helped establish the New Zealand Chinese Calligraphy Association from 2007 and served as executive council member, and is currently an Honorary Council member. She has offered her calligraphy services freely to the public during the Chinese Lantern Festival for several years and has taught Chinese calligraphy from her home since 2006. She has volunteered with Asian Family Services since 2012 and has taught Chinese calligraphy to inmates in corrections facilities. Ms Chen was involved in the establishment of Blockhouse Bay Chinese Church.