The Queen's Service Medal
AFFLECK, Mrs Janet Margaret, OStJ
For services as an Ambulance Officer
Mrs Janet Affleck has been involved with West Otago St John since joining as a volunteer Ambulance Officer in 1990.
She was Operations Manager from 1995 to 2005, during which time she developed a strong team of volunteers. From 2005 to 2014 she held the role of Area Committee Secretary alongside her volunteer Ambulance Officer role. She remains a committee member to this day and an active Ambulance Officer. As an Ambulance Officer she has often been on call seven days a week, 24 hours a day to ensure the St John service remained available to the West Otago community, putting the ambulance service before her own family at times to benefit the community. She has attended local rugby, netball and hockey games as a volunteer in this capacity. Mrs Affleck is a Life Member of the West Otago Vintage Club, where her volunteer work includes the choreography of the Tractor Dancing group which performs at various local events.
The Queen's Service Medal
BARKER, Mr Bryan Ernest
For services to the community
Mr Bryan Barker has held leadership positions and been involved with a range of projects with Jaycees and Lions International over a number of years.
Through the Morrinsville Lions Club Mr Barker led a small team which raised $135,000 for the construction of a campervan equipped with a dialysis machine, to enable dialysis patients to be away from their home for several days at a time. The van is one of only two in New Zealand and is available to all patients in the Waikato/Midland health for a small charge. He has been a Trustee of the Friends of Morrinsville Trust since 2010, which administers the operation of two minivans which provide transport for the elderly and infirm. He was a co-founder and the organiser from 2006 to 2011 of the monthly Morrinsville Country Market. He played a key role in the establishment of the Hawke’s Bay Paraplegic Association, and was responsible for fundraising. He chaired a joint committee of sports clubs representatives to make a major extension to the pavilion at the Morrinsville Recreation ground. He has represented both Hawke’s Bay and Waikato on the Outward Bound Trust. From 1994 until 2004 Mr Barker was Treasurer of the Matamata Piako branch of the Waikato Life Education Trust.
The Queen's Service Medal
BEUTH, Mr Lyall George, JP
For services to the community
Mr Lyall Beuth has served in Lions Clubs across seven locations since 1967, in leadership roles as a Regional Chairman, President, Club Secretary and Treasurer, and at the frontline leading projects such raising funding for the Camp Quality child cancer charitable trust, the Red Puppy Blind Foundation Appeal, and Stoke Foundation.
The Lions Club awarded Mr Beuth the 45 Year Monarch Chevron in 2014 for recognition of his dedicated membership. In addition, Mr Beuth has served as the Treasurer of the Rotorua Continuing Care Trust Board for almost ten years. He also has supported his local environment as a volunteer Department of Conservation Camp Warden since 2009, and works closely with the Lake Okareka Land Care Group to create and maintain walkways. Mr Beuth has also served his community as a Justice of the Peace since 2002.
The Queen's Service Medal
BROOKER, Mr Basil Edwin
For services to music
Mr Basil Brooker has contributed to music for more than 40 years.
Mr Brooker founded the ‘Hastings Madrigal Singers’ in 1971. Later renamed as the ‘Linden Singers’, he has been the conductor, chairman and leading organiser for the choir of 30 or so singers ever since. Over the 45 years, he has organised more than 90 different innovative musical programmes and more than 150 concerts, as well as performances on Radio New Zealand and for the ‘Praise Be' television programme, tours to other towns and cities, guest artists and advertising. He has trained more than 200 singers around the region and has also been a choral member of the St John’s Cathedral choir for more than 30 years. Mr Brooker’s work in the Hawke’s Bay community has been recognised by a Civic Award from Hastings District Council.
The Queen's Service Medal
CAWSTON, Mr John Charles
For services to people with Multiple Sclerosis
Mr John Cawston has served the multiple sclerosis community in Rotorua and wider New Zealand for almost 30 years.
Mr Cawston served as the President of the Rotorua Multiple Sclerosis Society for more than 11 years, and as the President of the National Executive for five years. In these roles he developed social events to encourage people with multiple sclerosis out of their homes and back in to society, and set up systems to help with communication and transport such as telephone systems and subsidised taxis, and employed and established training for field officers to be available to attend to the needs to members. Mr Cawston is a well-respected figure in the multiple sclerosis community for his tireless service, and his dedication to the care of his wife Heather who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1986.
The Queen's Service Medal
CHRISTIE, Mrs Nicky
For services to the Greek community
Mrs Nicky Christie has served Wellington’s Greek community for more than 20 years.
Mrs Christie has been a foundation member of the Australasian Hellenic Education Progressive Association since 1992 and was Chapter Olympia President for three terms. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the Greek Orthodox Community of Wellington and is active in organising community events such as the Greek Food Festival and the Greek Bazaar. Since 2009, she has prepared, produced and presented the Greek Orthodox Community’s weekly live one hour programme on Radio Access, which features segments on Greek history, religion and music. She devotes a significant amount of time into preparing the programme, which is positively received and respected by members of Wellington’s Greek community. Mrs Christie is also a member of the New Zealand chapter of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, and an active member of the Greek Orthodox Church Choir.
The Queen's Service Medal
CLAUDE, Mr Victor Rex (Vic)
For services to the care of children
Mr Vic Claude served on the Board of Cholmondeley Children's Home for 21 years until 2011 and was President from 1996 to 2000.
Cholmondeley is a long standing charity in Governors Bay providing short term emergency and planned respite care for children aged from three to twelve whose families are experiencing crisis or distress. During his time as President Mr Claude utilised his own company to assist with marketing for Cholmondeley, particularly in the production of its Care magazine. He is a Life Member of Cholmondeley Children's Centre. He has served on the Christchurch Children’s Holiday Camps Trust for more than 30 years and remains a current Trustee. Mr Claude was Chairman of the Canterbury Promotion Council before it was absorbed into the Christchurch City Council.
The Queen's Service Medal
COWLES, Mr Neville Raymond
For services to music
Mr Neville Cowles has played the cornet, trumpet and military bugle across both the Oamaru Garrison Band and the Timaru Municipal Band for a total of 57 years.
Mr Cowles has held a range of roles with the Oamaru Garrison Band, including Chairman, Band Sergeant and brass tutor. For 54 years he has performed the Last Post and Reveille at RSA Anzac Day and funeral services throughout the North Otago and South Canterbury Districts. He has played solo cornet with the Oamaru Salvation Army Band every Sunday for the past 10 years. He has represented New Zealand internationally, playing with the City of Dunedin Brass Band at the 1984 World Fair in Otatu, Japan and in 1994 with the Timaru Municipal Band in the Chingay Processional at the Singapore Independence Celebrations. He has played in the orchestra of the Oamaru Operatic Society for 29 shows between 1966 and 2015, played in the Oamaru Savage Club orchestra for 50 years, and has sung in the Savage Club’s Men’s Choir. Mr Cowles has been a trumpet soloist at the Oamaru Music Group’s classical concerts from 1967 to 2010.
The Queen's Service Medal
DOORBAR, Mrs Alice Katene
For services to health and Māori
Mrs Alice Doorbar has been involved in the health sector since the 1970s and has specialised in the care of seniors, particularly elderly Māori.
Early in her career Mrs Doorbar worked at the Waitara Maternity Annex where she helped develop Maternity Department policies and procedures that were responsive to the needs of Māori. She then joined Te Ara Ora, the health promotion team at Taranaki Base Hospital and was a key driver of healthy lifestyle messages, particularly to Māori communities. She has delivered cultural competency training to staff at the Taranaki District Health Board, as well as to Rest Homes and NGO health service providers across Taranaki. She was a founding member of Te Whare Punanga Korero Trust, an entity which represents the eight Taranaki Iwi in a formal relationship with Taranaki DHB. She has been a long serving member of the Pukeariki Kaumatua Kaunihera and served as Secretary for a number of years. She is Hapu representative on Te Atiawa Iwi Health Forum, an active member of Otaraua Hapu Trust and a past Trustee of Hospice Taranaki. She is a longstanding member of the Waitara Branch of the Māori Women’s Welfare League. Mrs Doorbar is current Chairperson of the Te Atiawa Kaumatua Housing Trust.
The Queen's Service Medal
DOUGHTY, Mr Maurice Eldred
For services to the New Zealand Fire Service
Mr Maurice Doughty has been a firefighter for 55 years, having first joined the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Brigade at Point Chevalier in 1960.
Mr Doughty served as a volunteer ambulance assistant in the early 1960s. He was a Senior Station Officer at Pitt Street Station until 1983 when he was promoted to Divisional Officer Southern Command. From 1980 he helped establish the fledgling volunteer fire force at Mangawhai, assisting in obtaining uniforms, appliances and equipment and the training of local firefighters. He moved to Mangawhai Heads in 1996 and joined the volunteers of the rural fire force. He was instrumental in the move to convert the fire force into an urban volunteer fire brigade, where he eventually reached the rank of Chief Fire Officer, a role he held for six years. He retired as an operational firefighter in 2014 and has continued his involvement with the New Zealand Fire Service in his role as Northland Fleet Coordinator. Mr Doughty has been the volunteer Civil Defence Coordinator for the Mangawhai area for the past five years.
The Queen's Service Medal
DUKE, Mrs Ngaire Jean
For services to the community
Mrs Ngaire Duke was the manager of the Dunedin Citizens Advice Bureau from 1994 until 2016.
During this time Mrs Duke was instrumental in establishing CAB clinics in Waikouaiti and Mosgiel and overseeing the growth of the CAB into a centrepiece of Dunedin Community House with 50 volunteers. She was a lynchpin member of the group which advised on setting up Community House in its current location. She regularly presented to inmates at Otago Corrections Facility on CAB services to help them move forward with their lives. She has been a longstanding active member of the Dunedin Budget Advisory Service since 1990, including time as Chief Advisory Officer. She has held a range of roles with the National Council of Women Dunedin branch, including as a member of the Executive committee and branch representative on the Consumer Affairs National Standing Committee for a number of years. She has been a member of the Dunedin Council of Social Services and a community member of the Department of Social Welfare Executive Committee and DSW Welfare Review Board. Mrs Duke has been a member of the community singing group The Melrose Singers for more than 20 years and has served on the committee, as Treasurer, and worked on grant applications.
The Queen's Service Medal
FALCONER, Mrs Janet Rosemary (Janette)
For services to children with cancer
Mrs Janette Falconer has volunteered services to children with cancer and their families for more than 30 years.
Mrs Falconer became involved with children with cancer in 1977 when she started as a ward clerk at Auckland’s Princess Mary Hospital. She went beyond her duties to provide care and support to families at a time when there were no established supports for child cancer, regularly providing accommodation when the Cancer Society’s Domain Lodge was full, or when families lived out of town. She continued to care for children once out of hospital, visiting families and taking items of clothing, food, and offers to babysit. She also led fundraising efforts to make the ward more comfortable and welcoming for families. When she retired in 1986, she took on the voluntary role of Child Cancer Foundation Hostess, arranging outings, playdates and sleepovers for children with cancer. She was involved with the Child Cancer Foundation from its beginnings and was only the second person to receive the foundation’s Life Membership Award. Mrs Falconer continued in her role as hostess until 1990 and continues to keep in touch with and support the families she cared for.
The Queen's Service Medal
FEEK, Mr Keith Warren (Warren)
For services to the New Zealand Fire Service
Mr Warren Feek has been involved with the Matamata Volunteer Fire Brigade for 41 years, during which time he has held the roles of Station Officer from 1993, Senior Station Officer from 2003, and was appointed Deputy Chief Fire Officer in 2014.
As coach of the brigade competition team Mr Feek coached the 2003 two man waterway North Island Champions, the 2006 two man waterway North Island Goldfield Champions, the 2007 two man waterway New Zealand Champions and the 2010 four man waterway Auckland Provincial Champions. He has also organised and run the brigade’s social events and has trained many new members. Mr Feek has been a member of the Matamata Lions Club for 10 years and has twice been elected President. He has actively supported many of their community projects.
The Queen's Service Medal
GEDDES, Mr Kevin James Damer, JP
For services to agriculture and the community
Mr Kevin Geddes has served the Canterbury region, particularly in agriculture, since the 1980s.
Mr Geddes has worked as a Senior Policy Advisor for Federated Farmers since 1998 and, as part of that role, has been the Executive Director of the Fertiliser Quality Council and the New Zealand Groundspread Fertiliser Association. He has also undertaken voluntary work for Federated Farmers, acting as a mentor and advisor to elected representatives, and as a member of the Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers Charitable Trust and the Mid Canterbury Emergency Relief Trust, where he helped to co-ordinate responses to adverse events. He is a Justice of the Peace and has been President of the Ashburton Justices of the Peace Association and the national body, including as the President of the Royal Federation of Justices of the Peace and the President of the Australasian Justices of the Peace Associations. Mr Geddes has also been involved in Ashburton community activities, the Anglican Church, district choirs, sports clubs, local boards, the Farm Cadet Scheme, and the Advance Ashburton Community Trust.
The Queen's Service Medal
GIANOTTI, Mrs Claire
For services to people with disabilities and the community
Mrs Claire Gianotti has been the President of the Taupo District Group of Riding for the Disabled for 16 years.
Mrs Gianotti brought her vast experience in the education sector to her role as President of Taupo Riding for the Disabled. She was a primary school teacher for 34 years, Principal at Portobella and Papakowhai Schools and the National Director of ‘Parents as First Teachers’. She has been involved with Taupo Riding for the Disabled since 1997, and President since 2000. Under her leadership, development has become the focus of the group which caters for around 60 riders per week, each with an assigned horse and tailored therapeutic riding programme. She oversaw the relocation of the group to its current location at Poihipi Road, in a covered arena, for significant financial benefit to the non-profit organisation. As well as her work with Taupo Riding for the Disabled, she was the support person for the World Vision 48 Hour Famine in Taupo and co-coordinator of the group that runs the Acacia Bay Arts and Craft Fair. Mrs Gianotti was also on the team that fundraised for the building the Northwood Kindergarten in Taupo and was the Chairman of the Community Organisation Grants Scheme Tongariro Group.
The Queen's Service Medal
GRAHAM, Mrs Kerri
For services to youth
Mrs Kerri Graham is the General Manager of the Naenae Youth Charitable Trust (NYCT) and the Cannons Creek Youth Charitable Trust (CCYCT).
Mrs Graham and her husband established the Naenae Boxing Academy (NBA) in 2006 and NYCT took over operation of the Academy in 2007. The Academy operates a strategic youth facility to assist male youth in developing life skills through the discipline of boxing and physical fitness. The Trust has worked with youth referrals from schools, the Police and Juvenile Courts, dealing with problems such as learning disorders, relationship difficulties and drug/alcohol abuse. CCYCT was set up in 2014 to provide the same service to the Cannons Creek community. The effectiveness of these programmes have contributed to a decrease in youth crime in Naenae and the greater Hutt Valley area. Mrs Graham manages the complete administration function for NYCT and CCYCT, raises funds, and liaises with the Police, government and major supporters such as the Tindall and Vodafone Foundations. She has been akin to a foster mother at times for boys in the gym programmes who have lived with her and her husband for short periods. Mrs Graham has been instrumental in developing the vision and strategy for expanding the NBA programmes across New Zealand.
The Queen's Service Medal
GRAY, Mrs Elizabeth Kiri (Kiri)
For services to the community
Mrs Kiri Gray was the manager of the Cambridge Community Agencies Network Trust (The Community House) from 1990 to 2006 and has continued to contribute as a part-time budget advisor until the present day.
Under Mrs Gray’s leadership the Community House established new community initiatives such as a school holiday programme, a teenage youth group and a food bank, in addition to the existing employment training programmes, budget advice, and drug and alcohol counselling services. In 2002 the Trust introduced Adult Literacy and Driver Licensing tutoring, the latter of which she personally organised and taught. In 1990 she founded the Cambridge Stroke and Rehabilitation Club and continues as Coordinator of the club to this day on a voluntary basis. In 1991 she assisted Police in establishing Neighbourhood Watch in the town and joined the management team of Cambridge Victim Support Group to represent iwi and Māori victims in the greater Cambridge community. She is involved with the Cambridge Community Marae Nga Hau E Wha. Mrs Gray has served on the Community Organisation Grants Scheme panel on several occasions.
The Queen's Service Medal
HARROW, Mr Geoffrey (Geoff)
For services to mountaineering and conservation
Mr Geoff Harrow is a longstanding Forest and Bird Society member and was responsible for the rediscovery of the endangered colony of Hutton’s Shearwaters on the Kaikoura Range in 1965.
Mr Harrow has worked closely with the Department of Conservation and Te Runanga o Kaikoura to create a colony for Hutton’s Shearwater on the Kaikoura Peninsula to protect this species from predation. He established the Hutton’s Shearwater Charitable Trust in 2008 to raise funds to construct a predator proof fence at the colony, raising $220,000 within five months of incorporation. He served as a Committee member of the Trust until 2013 and remains Patron. He has been a member of the Canterbury Mountaineering Club since 1946, serving as a Committee member, Vice President and President from 1968 to 1970. He was made a Life Member of the Club in 1990 and served as Patron from 2006 to 2007. He has been on the committee of the Mountain Radio System from its establishment in 1968. He was a foundation member of the Craigieburn Valley Ski Club in 1953 and was President in 1963 and 1964. Mr Harrow was involved in the investigation and feasibility study for the opening of the Mount Hutt Ski field and was a founding Director of the Mount Hutt Ski Company.
The Queen's Service Medal
HASLAM, Dr Siu Kai
For services to the Chinese community and horticulture
Dr Siu Kai Haslam has been involved with the New Zealand Chinese Association Horowhenua Kapiti Branch since 1991 as Treasurer for six years and as the organisation’s representative to English Partners (Kapiti Horowhenua English as a Second Language) from 2008 to 2012.
Dr Haslam is a Life Member of the Tararua Growers Association, having been a committee member since 1982. She has spent thousands of voluntary hours translating documents from English for the Chinese community throughout New Zealand, which included the Employment Contract Act 1991 and the Growsafe Manual for the horticulture industry in 1999, recognised by Standards New Zealand as the first Chinese Manual in Australasia. More recently she translated the New Zealand Vegetable Levy Referendum in 2012. She has been a Chinese language interpreter for the Ministry of Justice and the New Zealand Police. She is involved with the Horowhenua Friendship Force, the Chinese Growers Youth Club, and has been the inaugural Treasurer of the Horowhenua Kapiti Chinese Sports and Cultural Association. Dr Haslam was a key member of the team which fundraised for the Chinese Garden in Te Takere Horowhenua Culture and Community Centre.
The Queen's Service Medal
HOSKING, Mr David Richardson
For services to the community
Mr David Hosking has been Chairman of Highbrook Park Trust for the past 15 years, which administers 40 hectares of park land adjacent to the Highbrook Business Park in East Tamaki.
Under Mr Hosking’s leadership the park has been developed with 12 kilometres of walking tracks and areas of geological interest, with plans for a rowing and water sports facility well progressed. He has been a member of the Auckland Observatory and Planetarium Trust Board for 15 years and has been involved with projects to update the Observatory’s equipment into the digital age. He was involved with Manukau Rotary Club for 20 years and has more recently been a member of the Lions Club of Te Kauwhata and Districts, through which he project managed the design and construction of the Soldiers Memorial in Te Kauwhata in 2015. He is Treasurer of the Waerenga Hall Society and oversees fundraising to maintain the hall. He chaired the Alfriston School Board for almost 10 years in the 1980s during a challenging period of population and roll increases. Mr Hosking was Chair of the Auckland Branch of Governance New Zealand in 1985 and served on the New Zealand Board from 1986 to 1988.
The Queen's Service Medal
IBBOTSON, Mrs Sandra
For services to the community
Mrs Sandra Ibbotson co-founded the Napier Community Patrol (NACP), in conjunction with Police, in 2006 and since its inception has been the driving force behind its development.
The NACP has grown into an organisation with more than 240 volunteers, the largest community patrol in New Zealand. Mrs Ibbotson has been the Coordinator of NACP since 2006 and was selected as the national Recruitment and Membership Convenor for Community Patrols New Zealand in 2015. She regularly speaks to community groups and arranges promotional stalls at events, and persons indicating an interest in joining NACP are interviewed by her to assess their suitability and commitment. She has prepared and maintains a comprehensive training manual for all new NACP members. She keeps the patrollers up to date on forthcoming events and patrol news via a comprehensive newsletter. She prepares six monthly incident and statistics reports using information gained from patrol reports, which are provided to Police, all patrollers and to funders and supporters. She presents NACP submissions to the Napier City Council for ongoing funding. NACP has secured more than 50 sponsors, almost all of whom have made their commitments following approaches by Mrs Ibbotson or her husband.
The Queen's Service Medal
JEFFERIES, Mr James Gerard (Jim)
For services to local government, theatre and business
Mr Jim Jefferies has been a Palmerston North City Councillor since 1996 and served as Deputy Mayor from 1998 to 2001 and 2010 to 2015, which included a period as Acting Mayor.
Mr Jefferies served on a wide variety of Council committees including Regulatory and Resource Management, Finance and Review, Economic Development, Arts and Culture, Community Wellbeing, Infrastructural, and Environmental and Planning. He played a significant role in the redevelopment of the Regent on Broadway as Chair of the Theatre Restoration Fundraising Committee in 1990s, Chair of the committee that oversaw the development of the Theatre post-restoration, and as Chair of the Regent Theatre Trust Board. He has been a member of the Manawatu Whanganui Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group. He chairs Aorangi Hospital and is Deputy Chair of the Crest Hospital Board, having overseen the merger of the two organisations on one site. He served two terms on the MidCentral District Health Board. He was one of the initial founders of the Manawatu Chamber of Commerce and was Chairman from 1990 to 2000. Mr Jefferies has held a range of directorships for a variety of companies throughout the lower North Island across sectors such as health and transportation.
The Queen's Service Medal
JOHNSTON, Mr William Bruce (Bruce)
For services to Scouting and the community
Mr Bruce Johnston was involved with Scouting New Zealand for nearly 30 years at all levels from Assistant Scout Leader to District Commissioner.
During his time with the First Karori Scout Group Mr Johnston was actively involved with all aspects of the Group, which was one of the largest in the area consisting of one Venturer Unit, three Scout Troops, four Cub Packs and two Kea Groups. As District Commissioner he was very committed to adult leader training and extending the influence of Scouting in the Wellington West District by active participation in District events including Gang Shows and Jamborees. He has been involved with the Returned and Services Association since 1991 and has been the Karori Branch President since 1996, where he has been instrumental in retaining independent clubrooms and increasing membership. He has been a member of the Wellington RSA Executive since 2007. He personally organises the annual Karori Anzac Day service and Poppy Day collection, as well as social events for members. He has been a member of the Karori Civil Defence team and a volunteer driver for the Karori Community Bus since 2009. Mr Johnston was a member of the committee of the Victoria University student accommodation Helen Lowry Hall for 12 years.
The Queen's Service Medal
KAY, Dr James Richard Paul (Paul)
For services to polo
Dr Paul Kay has significantly raised the profile of polo in his community and New Zealand, and enhanced New Zealand’s standing in the international polo community.
Dr Kay is a renowned breeder and trainer of polo ponies, President of Kihikihi Polo club, and past President and Life Member of the New Zealand Polo Association. In 2003, he was a driving force behind transforming the 16 hectare Kihikihi Domain into a community sport and recreational facility. He developed and funded a world-class polo pitch adjacent to the domain, which is made available to the community at no cost. He now organises annual international polo test matches on this ground and allows visiting teams to use his own ponies for the event. He also developed a polo pitch on public land in Cambridge, which doubles as a large open recreational ground for public use. Mr Kay continues provide his own machinery to maintain five grounds in the Waikato.
The Queen's Service Medal
LAMB, Mrs Lynn
For services to equestrian sport
Mrs Lynn Lamb has given a lifetime of voluntary service and support to equestrian sport in New Zealand.
In Mrs Lamb’s youth her skill as a horsewoman in showing, dressage, show jumping and eventing took her to numerous successes in local, regional and national championship competitions. She has been a member of Solway Pony Club, now merged with and known as North Wairarapa Pony Club, for more than 60 years and is currently the Patron. Until recently she was Assistant District Commissioner, Head Instructor, and A&P Liaison Officer for the Club. She has been a Pony Club instructor to two generations of children and has coached national representative Pony Club teams. She has been a listed judge for the Royal Agricultural Society and has judged dressage and carriage driving at national level. She has been a committee member of Riding for the Disabled and their horse and tack manager. She is a member of Castlepoint Beach Racing Club. She was named the first female Clerk of the Course at a metropolitan race course in New Zealand. Mrs Lamb is a Life Member of Equestrian Sport New Zealand.
The Queen's Service Medal
LESLIE, Mr Graham
(Deceased. This award took effect on 21 December 2016; Her Majesty's approval having been signified before the date of Mr Leslie's death.)
For services to education
Mr Graham Leslie has served as a teacher, Deputy Principal, mentor to students and staff, and basketball coach at Hillmorton High School for more than 46 years, and still continues to volunteer at the school as a mentor following his medical retirement at 72 years of age.
Mr Leslie mentored hundreds of young teachers and generations of students over his career, and is credited with influencing many troubled young men to stay out of the justice system. He put in countless hours of work as a coach of the Senior Boys Basketball Team, running 7.30 am practices and Friday evening games, and supporting his team to play in Australia. He has always gone above and beyond what is expected of a teacher. He introduced the Computer Studies department to the school, and ran community classes to help the wider community into the digital age. His passion for geography ensured that his senior class was always the largest in Year 13, and his geography students gained more scholarships than any other subject in the school. More than 250 former students and staff paid tribute to Mr Leslie in a function held at Hillmorton High School in December 2015 to celebrate his years of service.
The Queen's Service Medal
LIVINGSTON, Ms Lois Anita
(Deceased. This award took effect on 19 November 2016; Her Majesty's approval having been signified before the date of Ms Livingston's death.)
For services to local government and the arts
Ms Lois Livingston has been a Waikato Regional Councillor since 1991 and has contributed to arts and culture, and preservation of the environment and heritage in the Waikato region.
As a councillor, Ms Livingston has been a particularly strong advocate for the sustainable management of the Waikato River and better public transport in Hamilton. Beyond her work for the council, she has chaired the Hamilton East Community Trust for eight years, helping to establish two heritage trails in Hamilton East and successfully launching the biannual Heritage festival. She has chaired the Hamilton East Community House for 6 years, promoting services and programmes such as free financial and legal advice and community education classes for approximately 7,500 people per year. She is the Chair of the Riverlea Theatre and Arts Centre, a multi-use community theatre. She played a key role in negotiating a land purchase agreement with the Hamilton City Council for its current site, including securing more than $100,000 in grants and donations from the local community. Ms Livingston has also served as the Chair of the Hamilton Community Arts Council, and as a member of the University of Waikato Culture Committee, the Waikato Conservation Board and Lotteries Environment and Heritage.
The Queen's Service Medal
LOEWENTHAL, Mr Charles Murray (Murray), JP
For services to health and the community
Mr Murray Loewenthal became a member of the Executive Committee of the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Division Cancer Society of New Zealand in 2001, later becoming Vice President in 2010 and President in 2011, a position he still holds today.
Mr Loewenthal was appointed divisional representative to the National Board of the Cancer Society in 2011. He was a member in 2010 of the project group to build the Cancer Society’s Lions Lodge, a 60 bed facility to accommodate people needing treatment at the Regional Cancer Centre in Hamilton. He has been a committee member and Chairman of the New Zealand Accountants Society Waikato Bay of Plenty Branch. He chaired the Formation Committee to convert the closed maternity hospital in Otorohanga into the Trust owned Beattie Rest Home with 37 beds and an attached Village of 19 units. He was appointed as a Director of Waitomo Energy Services (now The Lines Company) for 13 years and is currently a Trustee of the Trust that owns the Company. He is a member of the Waitomo-Otorohanga Community Health Forum and Chairman of the Health Consumer Service Trust. Mr Loewenthal has been a Trustee of the NKC Youth Trust which assists youth in the Northern King Country area to attend courses such as Outward Bound, since 1989.
The Queen's Service Medal
LYALL, Mr Paul Leonard
For services to the New Zealand Fire Service
Mr Paul Lyall joined the Wellington Fire Brigade in 1965 as a career firefighter and remains with the Brigade today as Senior Station Officer managing three fire stations.
Mr Lyall was a member of the Paraparaumu Volunteer Fire Brigade from 1962 until 2001 attaining the rank of Senior Station Officer. He used his training and operational experience from his role with the Wellington Brigade to train and mentor the Paraparaumu volunteers. He spent his spare time carrying out appliance checks and equipment testing to ensure everything was maintained to a high standard for the Paraparaumu Brigade. He has spent time as a specialist Fire Safety Officer carrying out significant fire investigations and the promotion and education of fire safety across Wellington. He spent several years as a specialist instructor at the Fire Service training centre and has been instrumental in mentoring and coaching a large number of firefighters to pass their exams and prepare them for promotion. Mr Lyall was instrumental in delivering the Firewise programme to preschool and school children in Paraparaumu.
The Queen's Service Medal
MACDONALD, Mrs Catherine Flora
For services to music
Mrs Catherine Macdonald is a London-trained opera singer who has played a significant role in the musical life of Gisborne for more than 40 years.
Mrs Macdonald embraces all genres of music and is a teacher, performer and organiser of many recitals, musical activities and events in Gisborne. For almost 40 years, she has been a soloist, supporting chorister, and emergency conductor with the Gisborne Choral Society. She organises and performs in the Gisborne opera festivals and the annual Piano Extravaganza, and makes music accessible to all with free lunchtime concerts each month. These concerts are extremely popular and provide a platform for many of Gisborne’s young musicians and performers. She is Musical Director at St Andrews Church, leading the choir and arranging the music for services each week, and leader of the worship committee which ensures smooth running and planning of services. She arranges and takes church services for the elderly in rest homes, is leader of the Mainly Music group for pre-schoolers, and runs a large, successful piano teaching practice. In 2015, Mrs Macdonald was awarded a Gisborne Citizen’s Civic Award.
The Queen's Service Medal
MAY, Mr John Phillip
For services to the New Zealand Fire Service and the community
Mr John May was a member of the Petone Volunteer Fire Brigade from 1969 to 1998, during which time he also held roles as Volunteer Station Officer and Volunteer Training Officer.
In 1998 Mr May transferred to the Wainuiomata Volunteer Fire Brigade where he is currently serving as Senior Station Officer and as Welfare Representative. Since 1995 he has been a Volunteer Instructor for Phase One and Two Courses for the New Zealand Fire Service. He assisted in the organisation and running of the National Waterway competitions in Petone in 1987 and continues to judge and assist with various competitions. He was President of the New Zealand Fire Brigades Institute from 2000 to 2001 and has been elected a life member of the Institute. He has been a Director and Trustee of the New Zealand Firefighters Credit Union since 2003. He has been a member of Rotary since 1995 and was President of Wainuiomata Rotary Club from 2006 to 2007. He is currently past Chairman of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association. Mr May has been the coordinator of the Wainuiomata Christmas event since 2007, during which time he has overseen its revitalisation.
The Queen's Service Medal
MAY, Mrs Karen
For services to the community
Mrs Karen May runs her own design business in Cambridge and has contributed to a range of community organisations in the area.
Mrs May was a Board member of Cambridge Lifeskills from 2010 to 2015, a free counselling service for the fifteen schools in the Cambridge district. She was responsible for re-branding Cambridge Lifeskills, has spearheaded fundraising ventures and encouraged local businesses to support the Lifeskills cause. She was the driving force for the branding and promotion of the Waipa Fun Run and Walk for the Waipa Community, which began in 2011 and is organised as a fundraising event for St Peter’s Catholic School. She remains a sponsor. She was a Board member of Cambridge iSite from 2013 to 2015. She was involved with the establishment of a new chapter of Business Network International (BNI) in Cambridge in 2005. She has supported the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce and the Waipa Business Awards and has led branding strategies to raise the profiles of these organisations. Mrs May has been involved with the publication of The Rotary Community Directory, now Cambridgefindit, since 2003.
The Queen's Service Medal
MCGUIRE, Mr Francis Frederick (Frank)
For services to the New Zealand Fire Service
Mr Frank McGuire has been a member of the Blackball Fire Brigade for more than 50 years and is the only founding member still with the Brigade.
Mr McGuire was Chief Fire Officer from 1989 to 1997. He was an original member of the Blackball Fire Brigade competition teams and has competed in United Fire Brigade Association (UFBA) competitions at local and national levels. As a member of the West Coast Fire Brigade Association competition panel he worked with another member to draw up the two person runs which were adopted and are now used by the UFBA in their competitions. He has also been a member of the Grey Valley Fire Brigades Sub Association. He has represented the New Zealand Fire Service every year at the Blackball Anzac Day parade and was instrumental in the creation of the Blackball War Memorial, which was unveiled in 2008. Mr McGuire has been a member of the Blackball Working Men’s Club for 50 years and has served on the Executive Committee.
The Queen's Service Medal
MCKAY, Mrs Rosemary Jean
For services to athletics and the community
Mrs Rosemary McKay has fostered the development of athletics in Levin and the wider Horowhenua and Manawatu-Whanganui districts for more than thirty years.
Mrs McKay has been President of the Levin Athletic Club since the mid-1980s and is a Life Member of Athletics Manawatu-Whanganui. She is Chairperson of the Manawatu-Whanganui Children’s Athletics and a regional delegate of the New Zealand Children’s Athletics Association. She supports local primary schools to develop athletics programmes and run school athletic events, and chaired the organising committee for the Colgate Games in 2009 and 2016. As a member of her local church, she coordinates and drives for Meals on Wheels, organises and runs the Church Fair and monthly markets, and arranges monthly Women’s Fellowship meetings. Mrs McKay has volunteered with Girls’ Brigade for more than thirty years, where she continues to provide encouragement, advice and support to many girls in her role as Officer with the 2nd Levin Girls Brigade Company. In 2010, Mrs McKay was awarded a Civic Honours Award for outstanding voluntary contribution to the wider Levin community.
The Queen's Service Medal
MCMANUS, Ms Maata
For services to Māori and health
Ms Maata McManus is a practitioner of the traditional art of korowai weaving and has been producing traditional cloaks for 20 years.
Each cloak contains around 4,000 feathers and involves months of work to construct. For 18 years Ms McManus has run a programme to pass on traditional weaving skills to a range of students from diverse backgrounds. To date Te Korowai o Maata programme has taught the art to more than 5,400 students from iwi and different organisations across New Zealand. She has been involved with Children and Family services to support families who have lost children to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. She was the Regional Coordinator for Māori SIDS, a not-for-profit child health organisation, and has held roles with the Waikato District Health Board. She has been a consumer representative on the Midland Consumer and Carer Work Group and has worked as a Māori Kaitiaki in the hospital cancer/oncology ward. Recognising that Māori women are significantly less likely to get checked for breast and cervical cancer that non-Māori, Ms McManus pioneered a programme of travelling to small rural towns in Waikato offering free korowai weaving courses to encourage Māori women to access free screening at a mobile clinic.
The Queen's Service Medal
MCRAE, Mrs Margaret Jane (Margot)
For services to heritage preservation
Mrs Margot McRae is highly-regarded as a spokesperson on heritage issues and has been involved with preserving and enhancing the heritage of Devonport and Auckland for the past 20 years.
Mrs Mcrae has spent many hundreds of hours writing submissions and lobbying against the demolition or inappropriate alteration of many heritage buildings in both Devonport and Auckland. She has advocated for buildings to be added to heritage protection schedules, developed a North Shore Historic Heritage Strategy and spoken on the effect on Devonport of the proposed Auckland wharf extension. She is best known for her work as co-chair and spokesperson for the Victoria Theatre Trust, established to save and restore the 1912 Victoria Theatre, the earliest purpose-built cinema still in existence in the Southern Hemisphere. She was instrumental in converting the theatre from a dilapidated building into a working theatre and cinema, including substantial hours fundraising for the purchase $300,000 of new projection equipment. Mrs McRae’s own writing and filmmaking skills have documented various local events of historical interest, including the restoration of the St James Theatre, and the restoration of houses in Devonport and Takapuna.
The Queen's Service Medal
MILES, Mrs Shirley Ann
For services to charity fundraising
Mrs Shirley Miles, a cancer survivor, set herself a goal over the last 16 years to raise $100,000 for the Nelson Hospice, and she exceeded this, raising more than $133,000 single-handedly.
Mrs Miles has fundraised as a Pearly Queen, an organised charitable tradition of working class culture in London, at the Nelson Saturday market and other regional events. In 2013, Mrs Miles received a Volunteer Award from the Minister of Health.
The Queen's Service Medal
NGATAI, Mr Rongokino George (George)
For services to Māori and the community
Mr George Ngatai played a key role in helping establish the Whanau Ora Community Clinics in Manurewa, Pukekohe, Christchurch and Onehunga.
Mr Ngatai has been involved with supporting and delivering a Restorative Justice Programme through Orakei Marae, which began operating out of Auckland, Waitakere and North Shore Courts in 2013. He has volunteered as Treasurer of Manurewa Marae. He established Nga Iwi Katoa, which is supporting families who require housing in Glen Innes as well as other projects in Clevedon, Karaka and Manurewa. He helped re-establish the Māori Health Advisory Committee within the Counties Manukau District Health Board. He has established relationships with Iwi groups for Conservation Volunteers New Zealand. He has been a Board member on Te Reo Irirangi o Te Manuka Tutahi Iwi station for more than 10 years. He has been a White Ribbon Ambassador for four years and has hosted a number of community events acknowledging the victims of domestic and family violence. Mr Ngatai is a member of the Counties Manukau Police Māori Advisory Board.
The Queen's Service Medal
PACEY, Mr Arthur
For services to rugby and the community
Mr Arthur Pacey has had a long standing involvement with rugby as a player, coach and administrator.
Mr Pacey was involved with the Moutere Rugby Club as a player, committee member and coach from the 1950s until the 1980s. He continued to play for Moutere until 1993, after which time he has played Golden Oldies rugby. He has also been a member of Picton Rowing Club and Waitohi Rugby Club. He has voluntarily looked after the Spring Creek rugby grounds for more than 21 years. He was a member of the Spring Creek School Committee for 10 years, six of those as Chair, and has been the caretaker of the Spring Creek School pool, For 17 years at his own cost he looked after the Otamawaho urupa grounds for Ngati Toarangatira, Ngati Rarua and Rangitane based at Māori Island. Mr Pacey was one of the main builders of Parerarua Centre at Wairau Pa, as well as the Wairau Pa Marae kitchen extension.
The Queen's Service Medal
PURCELL, Lieutenant Commander Gerard Thomas (Gerry), JP, RNZN (Rtd.)
For services to youth and outdoor education
Lieutenant Commander Gerry Purcell has worked with young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds in the Welcome Bay area on a voluntary basis and from 2006 to 2013 he operated a drop in centre in the local hall and organised ‘away’ activities such as camps and hikes.
Lieutenant Commander Purcell was instrumental in establishing the Welcome Bay Community Centre Incorporated Society as part of the steering committee and was subsequently the Centre coordinator/operations manager and the Treasurer from 2007 to 2013. Since 2007 he has coordinated the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award from the Community Centre. A Scout Leader since 1969 he is also an Outdoor Instructor with Outdoor Training New Zealand. As Area Scout Commissioner for the Wellington Area in the late 1990s he implemented a restructure of the area and trialled several organisation changes which were later rolled out throughout New Zealand. He has organised an annual ‘Lava Camp’ in the Tongariro National Park, providing sub-alpine outdoor skills training for more than 100 youth leaders, with more than 500 young people having benefitted from these programmes. Lieutenant Commander Purcell is Treasurer of Lighthouse Church in Welcome Bay.
The Queen's Service Medal
RANDLE, Ms Frances
For services to senior citizens and the community
Mrs Frances Randle has contributed to a range of community organisations in Taihape for a number of years.
Mrs Randle is a long standing committee member of Taihape Older and Bolder and for five years has been coordinator of the Information, Coordination and Transport contract that Older and Bolder holds with Taihape Health Ltd. She provides transport for those needing to get back to Taihape after hospital admissions, usually from Whanganui and Palmerston North and sometimes Wellington. Until recently she organised a three days a week dialysis trip to Palmerston North for several patients. She is the Chairperson of the Taihape Senior Citizens Friendship group and assists the coordinator in organising a programme and meals for their twice monthly meetings. She has been Treasurer of Taihape Women’s Club since 2010 and is Treasurer of Taihape Floral Art. She has assisted with the organisation of fundraising golf tournaments for the local Fire Brigade, Cancer Society and other local groups. Mrs Randle served as the Community Organisation Grants Scheme representative for the Taihape and Waimarino area for three terms.
The Queen's Service Medal
ROPER, Mr Thomas Richard (Tom)
For services to the community
Mr Tom Roper established the Hillsdene Charitable Trust which has directly benefitted a range of community organisations in Tauranga from the Tauranga Arts Festival, the Garden and Arts Festival and Tauranga Police CIB Charitable Trust.
Mr Roper was a key contributor in the raising of more than $1.5 million for the construction of an all-weather athletic track at the Tauranga Domain. He was also instrumental in the construction of an all-weather riding facility for the Tauranga Riding for the Disabled. He was a leading founder of the Tauranga Branch of the New Zealand Property Council, Priority One and the establishment of the Tauranga Mainstreet organisation, which led the rejuvenation of the CBD and the development of Goddards Centre arcade. He became involved with the Waipuna Hospice when it was in financial trouble in 2003 and assisted the Hospice reorganisation into two charitable organisations, one to manage Hospice business and the other to raise money. He was the initial Chairperson of Waipuna Hospice foundation and Chairperson of its investment subcommittee, and remains on the Board to this day. Mr Roper was a member of the Compass Community Trust, is a current member of the Civic Amenities Group and chairs the Tauranga Riding for the Disabled Foundation, which he established in 2012.
The Queen's Service Medal
RUTHERFORD, Mr Peter Ewan
For services to people with disabilities
Mr Peter Rutherford has been a passionate advocate for people with a range of disabilities and in 1994 he established The Supported Life Style Hauraki Trust in Thames.
The Trust has grown to support 63 men and women with intellectual disabilities and people with traumatic brain injuries, termed ‘Life Stylers’. While CEO Mr Rutherford oversees a unique service that provides a ‘whole of life’ experience and supports a ‘community within a community’ providing residential, social and vocational services. Some clients are provided with a home for life, while others are rehabilitated back into the community to live a more independent life. In addition to a range of housing options around Thames, the Trust operates a farm on the Hauraki Plains, has a successful in-house café that utilises food from the farm and provides work opportunities, and an education centre for Life Stylers. In the early days of the Trust Mr Rutherford worked seven days a week and was on call 24 hours a day and now the Trust employs 65 full time employees.
The Queen's Service Medal
SAO, Mr Rasy, JP
For services to the Cambodian community
Mr Rasy Sao has served the Cambodian Community in Christchurch for almost 20 years.
Mr Sao has been the President of the Christchurch/Canterbury Cambodia (Khmer) Association since 1998. He has helped numerous Cambodians arriving in New Zealand to resettle, find employment and adjust socially. He donates his own time and money into helping members of the Cambodian community. In 2010 he became a foundation trustee of the Christchurch Migrants Centre Trust, Te Whare Ta Wahi, as a representative for the refugee community. He was the regular contact person for the Migrant Inter-Agency Network which was designed to facilitate the coordination of earthquake recovery services for Christchurch’s migrant communities. He has promoted health initiatives by inviting doctors to speak to promote good health in the community. He has organised numerous Cambodian religious and cultural celebrations, including regularly bringing a dance troupe to Auckland to perform at the Khmer temple. He has promoted New Zealand on the international stage, welcoming visitors from Cambodia, delivering seminars on New Zealand’s education system and helping to place international students in Christchurch educational institutions. Mr Sao has also been a Justice of the Peace since 2009.
The Queen's Service Medal
SCULLY, Ms Rosemary Angela
For services to people with intellectual disabilities
Ms Rosemary Scully is a well-respected member of the New Zealand disability community and has promoted the rights of people with learning disabilities.
Ms Scully has been involved with the Donald Beasley Institute and University of Otago research on learning disabilities. She was co-researcher on the project ‘Identifying and Addressing General Life Concerns of Women with Intellectual Disabilities’ conducted by the Donald Beasley Institute. She is a Life Member of People First New Zealand, having been Chair of the Dunedin branch, a leader for the Southern Region and a member of the National Committee. She was involved with the transition of People First from being part of IHC to being an independent organisation led by people with a learning disability. She has been involved with IHC at local and national levels. Ms Scully has been a keynote speaker to many national and international conferences, including Australasian Society of Intellectual Disability conferences and the New Zealand Psychological Society Conference.
The Queen's Service Medal
Lady SPRING, Margaret Annette
For services to governance and health
Margaret, Lady Spring has chaired the Pohlen Foundation since its inception in 2006, a health-related charitable trust whose objective is to fundraise for capital works for the Pohlen Hospital, a one-stop-shop medical facility in Matamata.
Lady Spring has led a small team of dedicated community-minded people who have raised more than $1.5 million for essential capital items and a new six bed wing addition to the hospital. She was previously chair of the Pohlen Hospital Trust from 2001 to 2006, before the establishment of the Foundation. Lady Spring was a founding Trustee of the Matamata Community Resource Trust in 2002, which aims to provide facilities for the use of community and charitable groups.
The Queen's Service Medal
STEWART, Ms Barbara Joan
For services to youth and education
Ms Barbara Stewart has worked to support and inspire teenage mothers for the past 15 years.
Ms Stewart helped establish the Rotorua School for Young Parents (RSYP) attached to Rotorua Girls’ High School in 2001. She was teacher-in-charge of RSYP until 2013, after which she became a support teacher at RSYP until her retirement in 2015. As teacher-in-charge she led the staff in mentoring the young women who attended the school, with a focus on building their confidence, improving their educational outcomes and increasing the options available to them. The school began with 25 students, one classroom for the students and two classrooms for childcare. During her tenure the facilities were extensively developed to now include three classrooms, along with an office, gym, kitchen and four classrooms for childcare. She has taught and mentored more than 375 teenage mothers during her time with RSYP. She received a Regional Award in the ASG National Excellence in Teaching Awards in 2004 and was named as one of Zonta’s 50 Women of Achievement in New Zealand in 2016
The Queen's Service Medal
SYKES, The Reverend Peter Brian
For services to the community
The Reverend Peter Sykes played a key role in the founding of the Mangere East Family Service Centre in 1993 and has been CEO since inception.
Under Reverend Sykes’ leadership the Centre has seen the development of a range of services including an early childhood centre, social workers in schools and community social workers, The Men’s Shed, a waste minimisation programme, and Te Punawai, a programme for supporting transgender youth. He was a founding member of the Community Network Nga Manga o Mangere and from 2000 to 2010 he was a member of the Internal Affairs’ Community Net supporting community groups. He has been a voluntary coach for athletics, gymnastics and rugby league in the Mangere area. Since 2002 he has been the President of the Mangere East Rugby League Club. He has been Treasurer of the Mangere East School Board of Trustees since 2004, and was Board Chairperson of Sir Douglas Bader Intermediate School Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2012. He has been involved with Selwyn Anglican Church in Mangere East since 1990. He has been a volunteer with Mangere Civil Defence for 10 years. Reverend Sykes was President of the Mangere Rotary Club from 2011 to 2013.
The Queen's Service Medal
TIMMS, Mr Gilbert Melvyn
For services to agriculture and the community
Mr Gilbert Timms has been involved with Horowhenua AP&I since 1972, taking on the role of Chief Sheep Steward from 1978 to 1991 and from 1997 to the present day.
From 1992 to 1996 Mr Timms was President of the Horowhenua AP&I Show. He is a Life Member of the Cheviot Sheep Society and founded the Ashby Stud in 1972. He has worked with Perendale sheep for more than 40 years, taking an active part in shows, judging and as a member of the Perendale Council for a number of years. He has supported various local organisations including serving on the Shannon School Committee, and providing financial support to Shannon Rugby and Horowhenua Hockey. Mr Timms was a key member of the group which worked to establish the Horowhenua Events Centre Trust, having negotiated within the AP&I to set up the lease and design, and to liaise with local contractors and farmers to utilise their equipment to lay foundations, drainage and plumbing work, and a carpark for the Events Centre.
The Queen's Service Medal
TOKO, Mrs Herita Rita (Rita)
For services to Māori and education
Mrs Rita Toko has been involved with Primary and Early Childhood Education since 1966 and was teacher of the first bilingual pre-school unit to be established in New Zealand, located on the grounds of Ruatoki High School.
In the 1980s Mrs Toko became an active member of Te Rōpū Āwhina Whānau, formed by the Māori Education Foundation Early Childhood Education Services. She travelled the country to show pre-school teachers how to create Māori learning resources from natural materials. In 1983 was appointed as a Kōhanga Reo Community Officer in the Waiariki and Mataatua regions. She then became District Coordinator of Kōhanga Reo for the Mataatua District Unit, based in Whakatane, and led a team in managing the development and self-management of Kōhanga Reo in the region by whanau and hapu. By 1996 she had helped develop 42 Kōhanga Reo in the Waiariki and Mataatua regions. She received the Kōhanga Reo qualification Te Whakapakari in 1994 and recently has been called upon to help with the assessment of students working towards completing this qualification. Beyond Kōhanga Reo she has been a member of the Māori Women’s Welfare League, a weaving group tutor, Secretary/Treasurer of Te Māhurehure Tribal Committee, and a District Commission for the Girl Guide movement.
The Queen's Service Medal
TROTT, Mr Alan George
For services to horticulture
Mr Alan Trott is a dedicated gardener who, over the course of 35 years, has transformed a four hectare block of bare pasture into Trott’s Garden, a nationally acclaimed, award-winning garden.
The garden earned a prestigious Garden of International Significance, awarded by the New Zealand Gardens Trust in 2015. Mr Trott was an active member of local and national bodies including as President of the New Zealand Rhododendron Association, Chairman of the Ashburton Art Gallery and the Ashburton iSite visitors centre committee. He gives tours of his garden to groups, has contributed many articles to publications, including radio and appearances on television. Mr Trott has published two books on horticulture.
The Queen's Service Medal
TUAI, Reverend Pelu
For services to the Pacific community
Reverend Pelu Tuai has been involved with the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand since 1982.
Over the course of 11 years Reverend Tuai worked to establish a purpose built church and hall facility for his Samoan parish and the wider Pacific community. In 1993 he opened the Ranui Pacific Island Presbyterian Church and its facilities, which included a large catering kitchen, community sports and hall facilities, classrooms and adjoining Early Childhood Centre for Samoan Language. The Leuatea Catering Service business was developed using the kitchen facilities. Church members volunteered their services to help operate the business and as a result of pouring the profits back into the church, the church was debt free by 1997. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Ranui Youth in Motion Trust (RYIM) to support and empower youth from the church and Ranui community. He has been a mentor for the Trust and supported RYIM activities, which include after-school programmes, holiday programmes and fitness programmes. In 2012, with Ministry of Education support, he introduced the programme Achieving Through Pasifika Languages to the church for the children and youth to learn the Samoan language. In 2009 Reverend Tuai helped establish a Pacific Island Synod within the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Queen's Service Medal
TUCKER, Mrs Doreen Alison
For services to netball
Mrs Doreen Tucker has been involved with netball in Dunedin and the Otago region for nearly 60 years.
As a player Mrs Tucker began at high school level in the 1940s and played up to first grade Club competition until 1965 with the Albion Netball Club. She has been a Committee Member, Secretary, Treasurer and President of the Albion Netball Club between 1947 and 2001. She played in the social grades from 1975 to 1987 and during this time was responsible for the organising of players and team practices. She was a committee member of the Otago Netball Umpires Association and was responsible for allocating umpires to games, a role she continued to carry out with the Otago Netball Union, including for the Masters’ Games in 2000. She was a member of the Otago Netball Union Management Committee where she was a member and convenor of a number of sub-committees. From 1999 to 2015 she was Control Office Manager every Saturday of the season. Mrs Tucker was a committee member of Dunedin Netball Centre from 2001 to 2012.
The Queen's Service Medal
WEBSTER, Mr John
For services to irrigation and the community
Mr John Webster led a committee carrying out investigations and planning over a 15 year period to establish an irrigation scheme covering 20,000 hectares for Downlands farmers in North Otago, a drought prone region.
Mr Webster dedicated numerous volunteer hours to meeting with farmers, engineers and financial institutions, as well as an opposition group in order to progress the North Otago Irrigation Company (NOIC) scheme. The NOIC established an efficient and reliable piped and pressurised irrigation system drawing from the Waitaki River that commenced operating in 2006. There has been considerable economic development to North Otago and job creation benefits from the NOIC scheme. He is a senior member of the Waitaki Irrigators Collective and is involved with the Kurow Duntroon Irrigation Company endeavouring to expand in the Kurow-Duntroon area. Locally he has been Chairman of the Totara School Committee and an active supporter of Waitaki Boys High School rugby and the North Otago Rugby Union. He also contributed to the establishment of the local hockey turf. Mr Webster has had a long involvement with local, regional and national Young Farmers organisations, including acting as a judge for Young Farmer of the Year.
The Queen's Service Medal
WEIR, Mr Eric Gordon
For services to the community
Mr Eric Weir oversaw the creation of the stock trading scheme to support Hospice Whanganui in 2005, known today as the Farming Friends of Hospice Wanganui Charitable Trust, and served as Chairman for 10 years.
The Trust now has some 300 cattle grazing throughout the Wanganui District Health Board area, with local farmers integrating Hospice cattle into their own herds, grazing at no cost, to grow the cattle on for the benefit of the Hospice Trust. The Trust funds Hospice Whanganui with around $70,000 annually. Mr Weir has had an involvement with rugby since 1958 and has held a range of positions from player to Whanganui Rugby Football Union selector to Patron of the present day Border Rugby Club. He has been involved with the Waverley Waitotara Sheep Dog Club for 50 years, including trialling his own dog and being involved with club operations. Mr Weir has been a member of the Waverley Lions Club since 1974 and was involved with the Waverley Drama Club, both on stage and behind the scenes.
The Queen's Service Medal
WILLBERG, Ms Helen Gail McDonald
For services to music
Ms Helen Willberg is recognised for her contribution to music education in the Wellington region.
Ms Willberg has been a teacher at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, specialising in music education. She has been actively involved in Playcentre, has produced a number of music publications for Playcentre, and in 1988 was made a life member of the Hutt Playcentre Association. She was instrumental in establishing CHIMES, a preschool music group, in the 1980s and continues to run some sessions. She has published research articles and has provided consultancy and professional services to a number of bodies, including Learning Media, the New Zealand Correspondence School, and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. She was the director of music at Saint James’ Anglican Church, Lower Hutt from 2005 to 2015, where she ran the senior church choir, initiated the Youth Choir and supported the Royal School of Church Music’s Winter Music school programmes. Ms Willberg mentors early childhood teachers about music, is a former President of the Music Education New Zealand Association and former member of the Orpheus Choir.
The Queen's Service Medal
WILSON, Mrs Dorothy-Anne
For services to the arts and the community
Mrs Dorothy-Anne Wilson was until 2016 Chairperson of the Opotiki Arts Council, having joined the Council in 1986 to raise funds for the Opotiki Community Theatre Trust for the operation of the Opotiki De Luxe Theatre.
Mrs Wilson established the iconic bi-annual Fibre and Fleece Festival in 1986, as a means of raising funds and showcasing Opotiki, which began as a fashion show at the Opotiki De Luxe Theatre. She served as coordinator of the Festival until 1989 and oversaw the extension of the festival to include a crafts fair, trades hall, workshops and an art exhibition to be hosted at the Opotiki College Campus. After performing community work in Australia until 1999 she returned to New Zealand and resumed her role as coordinator of the Fibre and Fleece Festival, later becoming Chairperson of the Festival from 2009 to 2013. She helped introduce a Silent Film Festival with the Community Theatre Trust, and was made a Life Member of the Trust in 2015. Mrs Wilson became the manager of the newly created Opotiki Agriculture and Historical Society Museum in 2007, and has played a significant role in its development and refurbishment, including establishing a second hand store to help meet the Museum’s administration costs.
The Queen's Service Medal
YARRELL, Mr Henry Peter (Peter)
For services to sport
Mr Peter Yarrell has set up and organised, in a voluntary capacity, four charity sport events over the past 25 years.
In 1993 Mr Yarrell began planning for a large charity Triathlon and after racing as a competitor in the Coast to Coast he established and organised the event known as the City of Christchurch Triathlon race. This event was able to donate more than $250,000 towards the various charities it supported over 12 years. On moving to Picton the Charity Race continued in a new form and became the Queen Charlotte Classic based in the Marlborough Sounds and continues as that, along with a further two charity events, namely the Marlborough Sounds-based Lochmara lodge half marathon and the Tour of New Zealand Bike Race. Drawing together a team of volunteers and sponsors he established the Tour of New Zealand Bike Race in 2012, a unique race regarded as one of the best multi day cycle events in the world, which Mr Yarrell continues to organise. The Tour promotes recreational tourism and cycling for competitors, while also benefitting a number of charities. This bi-annual event now raises tens of thousands of dollars for New Zealand charities including St John, Unicorn Foundation for Neuroendorcrine Cancer research and treatments, the Heart Foundation, and Tear Fund.
The Queen's Service Medal
YOVICH, Mr Walter Mick George (Wally)
For services to the community
Mr Wally Yovich is a businessman who has contributed to the Whangarei and Northland communities as a director of national and locally established companies.
Mr Yovich was elected to the Whangarei District Council in 1989 and served two terms. During this time he was the Finance Chairman and Chairman of the Town Basin Committee. He instigated the Recycling Levy and the setup of recycling facilities in Whangarei, one of the first in New Zealand. He is Patron for the Whangarei Quarry Gardens Trust and has been a key financial backer. He is Patron of the Jim Carney Cancer Centre and was a key financial supporter behind the establishment of the Centre. He has been on the Northland Bowls Centre Executive and the committees for Kamo Bowling Club and Whangarei Bowling Club. He has been a member of the Whangarei Dalmatian Club (formerly Whangarei Yugoslav Club) for a number of years and has served as Secretary and President. He was instrumental in establishing an annual indoor bowling tournament between the Whangarei, Dargaville, Auckland and Kaitaia Dalmatian Clubs, which has run for 27 years. Mr Yovich is a Trustee of the Jim and Mary Carney Charitable Trust which donates $100,000 annually to the University of Otago on behalf of the Carney Centre for Pharmacogenics.