To be a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order:
COMER, Mr Leith Pirika
For services to Māori, the State and local government
Mr Leith Comer was Chief Executive of Te Puni Kōkiri (TPK), the Ministry of Māori Development, from 2001 to 2013.
During this time Mr Comer oversaw the introduction of the Māori Potential approach that replaced the ‘Closing of the Gaps’ policy. Under his leadership TPK also published the Māori Economy Report in 2003, provided input into the Māori Television Establishment Act, and the establishment of the Māori Tourism entity, among other initiatives. Previously he was Chair of Lakeland Health Ltd from 1992 to 1997 and helped to establish the Tipu Ora Programme aimed at improving the health of mothers and their babies. He helped establish and was an inaugural member of the Rotorua District Council Te Arawa Standing committee. He led a consortium of Te Arawa and Mātaatua iwi during the sales process of Forestry Corporation and, although the bid was unsuccessful, it served as the forerunner of the successful Central North Island forestry settlement. He is currently Chairman and Executive Director of the Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru Education Trust. He is Chairman of Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi Trust and lead negotiator in their Treaty negotiations. As Chairman of the Rotorua Lakes Council Establishment Board he assisted in established Rotorua Contracting Ltd as a Council controlled organisation. Mr Comer is a member of the New Zealand Parole Board.
To be a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order:
REYNOLDS, Dr Paul Hugh Stewart
For services to the State
Dr Paul Reynolds was Chief Executive of the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) from 2008 to 2015, during which time he oversaw the Ministry’s repositioning of its role in the environment management system to focus on long-term stewardship.
Notable examples of his leadership include MfE’s work on water, resource management, and exclusive economic zone reforms. He played a key role in the creation of the environmental reporting framework for the provision of independent public commentary on the state of the environment. He has chaired a range of entities including the Natural Resources Sector, comprising a number of public service departments, the Advisory Board to the Victoria University of Wellington School of Government, and joint Chair of the regional council Chief Executives’ Environment Forum. He is currently Chair of Our Land and Water National Science Challenge, Deputy Chair of Landcare Research Ltd, a director of AgResearch Ltd, and Chair of both Sir Peter Blake Trust and Eastland Community Trust. His earlier public service career included senior roles at the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF). At MAF Dr Reynolds was influential in developing the Emissions Trading Scheme, particularly its forestry component.
To be a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order:
SAGE, Dr Martin David
For services to forensic pathology
Dr Martin Sage is a consultant forensic pathologist and for much of his career was the only full-time forensic pathologist residing in the South Island.
Dr Sage has provided the coronial pathology service to the Christchurch region since 1991. For much of this time he has provided a 24/7 on-call forensic service for the whole of the South Island. He has conducted more than 10,000 autopsies for coroners in various parts of New Zealand and at various times has appeared at every High Court in the country to give evidence in many well-publicised homicide trials. He has been an expert forensic pathologist in some of New Zealand’s most significant multi-fatality incidents including the Erebus aviation accident, Cave Creek viewing platform collapse, Christchurch earthquake, and Pike River mine disaster. He played a pivotal role in the creation of the National Forensic Pathology Service in 2005. For close to 10 years he campaigned with various government departments, Police and other agencies for the creation of a responsive national service to meet future demands. He continued his involvement in strategic and operational governance as an advisor to the Ministry of Justice and chief coroner for seven years. Dr Sage has played a significant part in the development of the speciality and the maintenance of standards through the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia.