The Queen’s Service Medal:
AMOS, Ms Carolyn Anne, JP
For services to the community
Ms Carolyn Amos has contributed to the Porirua community through a range of voluntary roles.
Ms Amos has volunteered for the New Zealand Police from 2011 to 2018, covering the community desk at Whitby Base until its closure in 2017, and has since been a safer city camera operator at the Porirua Police Station. She has volunteered at the Kenepuru Hospital since 2011 as a Meet and Greet guide and has provided assistance to many patients in various stages of health, helping them find their way around the complex to appointments and to various wards. She has been a Meet and Greet volunteer at Ally Todd Swimming since 2014. She has spent time volunteering as an English as a second language tutor and has supported new migrants settling into the Porirua community. She has volunteered to collect for various charities and was Team Leader responsible for organising the roster for Ronald McDonald House. In 2008 she helped organise two Disaster and Tsunami seminars attended by Porirua City Council staff and the Red Cross. She has previously participated in various school committees, was involved with Tough Love programmes in the 1980s, and with drug and alcohol awareness projects. Ms Amos has been a Justice of the Peace since 2001.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
BAKER, Mr Graeme Rodney
For services to the community
Mr Graeme Baker has held governance roles in the Whanganui community with the Cancer Society and Master Electricians for a number of decades.
Mr Baker has been actively involved with the Cancer Society for more than 16 years, including as a service volunteer, event sponsor and fundraising volunteer. He was elected onto the Central Districts Working group in 2010 and led the centre through a significant change to their model of work. In 2011, he was a key supporter of a governance alliance project to link centres into a single Central Districts Division that could be recognised nationally. He has been Chair of Finance for the Whanganui Rangatikei Waimarino Cancer Society since 2006 and President since 2016. As an electrical contractor, he has been a committee member of the Whanganui Branch of the Electrical Contractors Association New Zealand since the 1990s and has since served as a branch delegate, councillor and Branch President. He is a founding member of the Master Electricians’ Education Trust. Mr Baker has held numerous governance roles with a range of other organisations, including as President of the Rotary Club Whanganui Trust since 2016 and national treasurer of the Royal Life Saving Society New Zealand since 2014.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
BAKER, Mr Grant Andrew Aaron
For services to cricket and the community
Mr Grant Baker has been involved with the Tawa Cricket Club (now North City Cricket Club) since 1981, holding a range of roles.
Mr Baker was on the board of Tawa Cricket for 12 years, four as Chairman overseeing improvements to the club. He was a member of the Wellington Cricket Association from 1993 to 1997, where he carried out a review of the Wellington and Hutt Valley associations, resulting in a merger. He was President of North City Cricket Club from 2008 to 2012. He organised the sixth international vintage cricket tournament in 2012, attracting 32 teams from around the world. In 2013, he helped Wellington Cricket set up the Vintage grade for players over 35 and in 2015 he helped to establish the inaugural Over Sixties provincial championship against Wellington, Auckland, Northern Districts and Central Districts, expanding to all six major associations in 2016. In 2018 he initiated the formation of a Veterans Cricket New Zealand Charitable Trust, which now overseas Over 50s, Over 60s and Over 70s tournaments including teams participating in international competitions. He has been Chair of Veterans Cricket New Zealand since inception. Within his wider community Mr Baker has chaired Camp Elsdon Board, Porirua Harbour Catchment, YMCA Greater Wellington, and currently chairs YMCA Central and St Theresa’s Parish.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
BELL, Ms Jacquetta
For services to the arts and the community
Ms Jacquetta Bell has used her public relations and journalism skills to benefit many community organisations in the Nelson region.
Through her agency Nelson Media Agency, Ms Bell has provided a free advisory service to voluntary organisations in the region. She ran workshops on working with the media, helped with press releases and promotional materials, and supported organisations to advocate effectively. She worked with communities and councils to develop a community information handbook known as ‘Found’. She assisted with editing of a practical handbook for community workers called ‘Seizing the Moment’ and organised the digital version. She wrote the text for the first ‘Suter Gallery Cook Book’, a successful fundraiser. She has been Secretary of the Community Action Network. As the publicist for the school music competition Smokefree Rock Quest she increased the nationwide promotion of the event, a legacy which has been fundamental to the event’s success. She has been publicist for the Nelson Arts Festival for many years, as well as coordinating the Readers and Writers Programme. Ms Bell has contributed to Light Nelson (Te Ramaroa), the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts, The Adam Chamber Music Festival, and environmental groups Friends of the Maitai and the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
BLACKIE, Dr Alastair Hartley, JP
For services to dentistry and local government
Dr Alastair Blackie has dedicated service to the Kaiapoi community and dentistry profession through dental treatment, mentoring for the dental profession, and local governance for more than 40 years.
Dr Blackie was one of few dentists in the town of Kaiapoi for a number of decades. After the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes in Christchurch, he supported patients and other medical practitioners, including through offering free dental treatment. He has served on local and district councils, working to improve and regenerate Kaiapoi following the earthquakes, including on the Kaiapoi Council from 1981 to 1990 with six years as Deputy Mayor. He continues to serve on the Waimakariri District Council where he has been a councillor since 2016 and led the Regeneration team restoring Kaiapoi. He has held leadership and support roles within the Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Dental Association for nearly 30 years including as a consumer liaison officer for 14 years, member welfare officer, branch President, and Canterbury representative on the Association’s Board. He has volunteered with the Charity Hospital. Dr Blackie has been recognised with Honorary Life Membership of the Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Dental Association and was nationally recognised as the inaugural winner of the Association’s Outstanding Colleague of the Year Award in 2015.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
BLAKELY, Mrs Suzanne
For services to refugees and ESOL education
Mrs Suzanne Blakely has spent 30 years supporting refugee women as an English as a Second Language (ESOL) teacher.
Mrs Blakely began teaching English to Cambodian women and children in 1990 when she was working at Mairehau Primary School in Christchurch. In 1992, this extended to families arriving from Somalia. She started a specialised and targeted ESOL programme for refugee women, and has continued to teach marginalised refugee parents, especially women, for 30 years. She has done this through a combination of paid and voluntary work, and has always supplemented class resources from her own pocket, spending thousands of hours not only making resources suitable for learners who are illiterate in their own language, but enabling them to travel to attend class, and source childcare. She regularly supports women to attend health and school appointments, learn how to drive and supermarket shop, and to find employment. In the aftermath of the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes and the 2019 terror attacks, she spent days checking in with her learners, ensuring they were safe and had the practical help they needed. Mrs Blakely’s teaching methods, including working with pre-literacy as part of the teaching process, have been incorporated into mainstream ESOL teaching for refugees across New Zealand.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
BOLD, Mr Bruce Edwin
For services to the community
Mr Bruce Bold is active in the Upper Hutt community, having organised or been involved in many events over the past forty years.
Mr Bold set up the original Red Nose Day street appeal and was instrumental in the successful organisation and running of a radiothon for Cot Death Research, the Upper Hutt Roundtable’s annual Top Town games, and annual fireworks displays and Summer Carnivals over many years. He has planted native trees at Trentham and installed seating along the Hutt river trail, regularly provides transport and property maintenance for elderly community members, and provides practical assistance to the local arts and sporting community. Mr Bold has been the voluntary caretaker since the mid-1980s of the Block House, a category 1 historic building, and a Trustee since 1986 of the Rimutaka Tavern, a charitable licensing trust providing grants to local groups and events.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
BROOKE, Sergeant Andrew George (Andy)
For services to Search and Rescue
Sergeant Andy Brooke has been employed with the New Zealand Police since 1981 and has been involved with Search and Rescue since 2004.
Sergeant Brooke is Chairman of the Palmerston North Search and Rescue Group. He has been the Officer in Charge of the Manawatu Police Search and Rescue Squad since 2008. He has set up events, encouraged new members and run training courses in his own time. He has coordinated volunteers to join larger searches in Wellington, Whanganui and the Central Plateau. He has assisted with national events and represents Central Police District at the national level in SAR matters. He organised and ran bushcraft courses for the Manawatu Branch of Mountain Safety Council between 2010 and 2015, having been a member since 2008. He was a founding member of Outdoor Training New Zealand, which co-ordinates teams of volunteer instructors to deliver training to the general population and especially young people preparing for their Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award expeditions. He has been programme coordinator and gear custodian since 2015. He has been a tutor in the Emergency Management Department of Tai Poutini Polytechnic since 2007 and an instructor for LandSAR Training. Sergeant Brooke helped set up the Wandersearch programme in the Manawatu which uses radio tracking to locate people at risk of wandering.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
CAMERON, Mrs Barbara Michelle
For services to the community and local government
Mrs Barbara Cameron (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) was a Councillor with Manawatu District Council from 1998 to 2001 and 2007 to 2019.
During this time, Mrs Cameron was active on committees across all aspects of local government. She was a Trustee of Arohanui Hospice Trust from 2005 to 2013 until her appointment to MidCentral DHB from 2013 to 2019. She has facilitated with a small team the concept of establishing a child-centred Children’s Regional Health Centre. She was appointed to Sport Manawatu in 2018 and supports their Everybody Active strategic focus. She was a teacher of the Deaf from 1977 to 1988 and Deputy Principal of St Dominic’s School for the Deaf, Feilding from 1983 to 1988. She remains a Trustee of St Dominic’s Charitable Trust following the school’s closure. She was employed as a Health Educator with Palmerston North Public Health Unit from 1988 to 1995, working on many national and regional population health campaigns. She was appointed to Eastern and Central Community Trust from 1997 to 2009. She has been a member of Makino Rotary since 2005 and previously Feilding Rotary from 1990 to 2001. She was President of the respective clubs and involved with numerous community activities. Mrs Cameron served on Palmerston North Boys High School Board of Trustees from 1989 to 1999.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
CAMPBELL, Mr Charles Edwin
For services to the performing arts
Mr Charles Campbell has been an active supporter and contributor to the Dunedin live theatre and performing arts scene for more than 60 years.
Mr Campbell joined Musical Theatre Dunedin (formerly Dunedin Operatic Society) in 1959 and is a past Board member and President. He is the only Dunedin Operatic member to be involved in all 50 years of carol singing events at local hospitals and rest homes, and for many years he represented Dunedin Operatic at the New Zealand Federation of Operatic Societies’ annual conferences. He has supported other operatic societies and theatre groups in the Canterbury, Otago and Southern regions, whether by travelling to performances, helping with programme formatting, proofreading, or greeting patrons at front-of-house. In 1972 his concern at the closing of Dunedin’s former His Majesty’s Theatre sparked a successful project by Dunedin South Round Table community service club, which led to the formation of the Otago Theatre Trust. With public fundraising, Dunedin’s Regent Theatre was purchased and developed as Otago’s premier live theatre venue. He was involved in the Theatre’s annual book sale since its inception, as well as open days, working bees, tours, social events and front-of-house activities. Mr Campbell is a Life Member of the Otago Theatre Trust and Musical Theatre Dunedin.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
CONAGHAN, Mr Grant Kenneth
For services to Search and Rescue
Mr Grant Conaghan has volunteered with Northland Land Search and Rescue (NLSAR) for 50 years, active in all aspects of the organisation from Field Team Member to Group Chair and Training Officer.
Mr Conaghan has been designated search manager on many searches and has attended operations ranging widely from locating lost individuals and groups, downed aircraft, shoreline searches for maritime incidents, through to body recoveries. As Group Chair of NLSAR from 2000 to 2016, he has had input at the national level, helping to shape constitutions and supporting the organisation’s members to carry out training and rescue operations. He has been one of the NLSAR drivers behind the WanderSearch/Wandatrak system for individuals with cognitive impairment who have a risk of going missing. He has helped fundraise and acquire equipment and training to ensure the group is prepared to undertake searches for these individuals. He has raised awareness of NLSAR with talks to local community groups and displays at the local Emergency Services Family Fun Day. He has often taken time away from his business and personal projects to prioritise Land SAR. Mr Conaghan and his team received the Supreme Search and Rescue Award for their efforts in rescuing a man stuck on a cliff face in a remote Northland location in 2019.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
CURTIS, Mr Kevin Graham
For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community
Mr Kevin Curtis has been a member of the Matamata Volunteer Fire Brigade since 1975, having begun his involvement unofficially as a runner at age 16 in 1973.
Mr Curtis was Deputy Chief Fire Officer from 1995 to 2012, before taking up his current role of Chief Fire Officer. He has been a member of the Auckland Provincial Fire Brigade Association (APFBA) since 2013, serving on the leadership committee for four years and as President in 2016/2017. He has supported a range of Matamata Lions Club projects such as the annual fertiliser drive fundraiser, Christmas float, IHC golf competition and working bees. He has also supported Rotary Club projects and the Matamata Art Society with working bees and running exhibitions. He has been a member of the Matamata Gun Club for 40 years, 38 of which he has been on the committee. He has been a coach, vice-president, secretary and treasurer over the years. When membership was low, he worked with a small group to form a partnership with Te Aroha Gun Club to ensure a combined future for the clubs. Mr Curtis has travelled with the Matamata Shooting Team and has supported the safe running of Secondary School Shoots at the club.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
DOBSON, Mrs Diana Lois
For services to wildlife conservation
Mrs Diana Dobson has played a key role in the conservation and protection of the New Zealand Falcon.
Mrs Dobson has had a strong affinity for the rehabilitation of injured wild birds over more than four decades. She has been the Aviary Manager of the Marlborough Falcon Conservation Trust since 2011, mainly focusing on the rehabilitation of sick and injured Kārearea, the only remaining endemic bird of prey in New Zealand and one of Aotearoa’s most at risk species, numbering around only 6,000 birds. She leads the Trust’s Captive Breeding programme and has been responsible for the breeding and releasing of 68 juvenile falcons, adding about one percent to the estimated population of Kārearea in Aotearoa. She leads in educating the public through their Advocacy and Education programme on the importance of acting to save the Kārearea from persecution. She also cares for injured, rescued and orphaned birds and, where possible, restoring wild populations. This recently, included raising an abandoned colony of chicks of the critically endangered black billed gulls. Mrs Dobson’s dedication to native birds has reinforced the importance of this work to many, including those of younger generations.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
EDWARDS, Mrs Sonia Elizabeth
For services to historical research and the community
Mrs Sonia Edwards researched records of every man from Opotiki and Eastern Bay of Plenty who served in World War One, liaising with the RSA, marae and families to collate records.
This information led to her publication of the book ‘In Eternal Memory’ (2015) about soldiers from the Eastern Bay of Plenty who died during WW1 or subsequently from their injuries. Mrs Edwards had white crosses made with each soldier’s name, which are placed on display at the Opotiki cenotaph for ANZAC and Armistice Days each year. She has spent many hours cleaning and photographing headstones, while matching them to District Council cemetery records. She has established a website to enable families to access Opotiki grave site information and photos. She has been a member of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists since 1967. She published the Opotiki Golf Club Centennial book in 2018, having been on the Centennial committee and previously Secretary in 2007/2008. At her expense, she arranged for Opotiki newspapers from 1938 to 1950 to be digitised by National Archives. During her time working at Opotiki College, she was involved with hockey and rowing in the 1970s and 1980s on a voluntary basis. Mrs Edwards was Secretary of Opotiki Probus Club from 2007 until 2016.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
FROST, Ms Carol Annette
For services to the homeless and prisoner rehabilitation
Ms Carol Frost has been Operations Director for the Dunedin Night Shelter Trust since May 2016, having previously worked for the Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation Society (PARS) in Dunedin.
Ms Frost manages both the Night Shelter and Phoenix Lodge, a six-bedroom transitional housing facility in which houses ex-prisoners in consultation with PARS. She oversees the successful overnight running of the shelter and has set up systems and ways of working that are helpful to, welcoming and respectful of the clients, to support them and connect them with other agencies. She gathers donations of beds and bedding, clothing, and kitchen utensils and provides these to clients as they move into flats or boarding houses. She has built connections that have ensured the financial stability of the shelter, as well as developing a strong knowledge of agencies, landlords and other challenges clients are likely to face. She organises the annual Night Shelter Street Appeal, requiring significant after-hours work and building links with volunteers, shops and members of the public. Ms Frost is widely acknowledged across Dunedin and by agencies that work in the homelessness space.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
GIBBONS, Dr Derek Clifton
For services to health
Dr Derek Gibbons served as a general practitioner for 45 years in Dargaville and the surrounding rural districts.
Dr Gibbons has supported the health of his community not only in this role, but also as an advocate and champion for the security and longevity of essential health services in the Northland region. Through his advocacy with government health authorities, he was instrumental in the retaining of Dargaville Hospital and ensuring that the community owned a 46 percent share of it. He played a significant role in the establishment of a total health care centre based at the hospital, and negotiated a contract for the Dargaville Medical Centre to take over patient medical care from the District Health Board, which has resulted in a steady supply of on-call doctors servicing the area, creating a stable around-the-clock medical service. He chaired Dargaville Medical Centre for 25 years. Dr Gibbons was key in the establishment of Kaipara Community Health Trust and Kaipara Health Incorporated, which were established to coordinate and provide representation for all health providers in the Kaipara community.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
GREENFIELD, Mr Robert MacGregor (Rob)
For services to college football
Mr Rob Greenfield has volunteered with the Wellington College Football Club Committee since 2007.
As club President in 2011, and as governance officer, Mr Greenfield drove the creation of a set of protocols and processes ensuring the fair and orderly running of the club. He has made a significant contribution to the growth of the club into the largest college age football club in Wellington and cementing football as the most popular sport played at the College. He has regularly been a Grade Convenor, and has held roles as President, Trial Convenor, and Grade Selector for Junior and Youth. He helped establish a system to enable senior students to play football without official coaching and practices, to form teams with their mates and continue their engagement in sport. He also oversaw a student coaching scheme to support the size of the club and a parent mentoring programme. He has been Communications Officer for five years, writing and distributing two newsletters every week during winter, and coordinating the club’s website and social media. He has written a club history from establishment in 1946 to the present. He organised football matches for Wellington College’s 150th anniversary in 2018. Mr Greenfield held several roles with Onslow Junior Football Club between 1999 to 2006 and is a Life Member.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
JACOBSEN, Mr Neville Henry
For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community
Mr Neville Jacobsen has been involved with Dannevirke Fire Brigade for 57 years, maintaining more than 90 percent attendance rate for callouts and keeping volunteers up to date in their training.
Mr Jacobsen project managed a new shed for the fire tanker in 2015/2016 and remains involved as curator of the Dannevirke Fire Service Museum and as a Brigade support member. He has been a Dannevirke Salvation Army volunteer for 47 years, contributing in a range of ways. He is a builder by trade and has been maintenance volunteer for many years, helping replace the floor of the High Street citadel in his own time, helping with Christmas events, and volunteering in the Dannevirke Family Store. He volunteered with St John from 1978 to 1990 and was a Scout Leader for five years. He was a member of Search and Rescue and Civil Defence teams from 1980 to 2006. He raised funds to purchase defibrillators, train people in their use and install them in businesses around the community. Mr Jacobsen was a member of the Tararua Aquatic Community Trust in the 1990s, helping raise $1.2 million to build a heated community pool, regularly contributing to working bees, and continuing to volunteer with the pool after it opened for many years.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
LANG, Mr Gary Irving
For services to Special Olympics and the community
Mr Gary Lang was a founding member and Treasurer of Southland Special Olympics in 1985, transferring to Eastern Southland Special Olympics as regional coordinator in 1990, then to North Canterbury Special Olympics Committee from 2000 to 2004.
Mr Lang has held roles including Regional Coordinator, Treasurer, committee member, and coach for athletics, bocce and indoor bowls. He travelled to the United States as Assistant Team Manager at the 1995 World Summer Games Special Olympics in Connecticut and Team Manager for the 1999 World Summer Games Special Olympics In North Carolina. He is a Life Member of Eastern Southland Special Olympics. Over the 1970s and early 1980s he was involved with the Queen’s Park Round Table Invercargill, a swim coach with Murihiku Swim Club, Committee member and Treasurer of Newfield School PTA, and Treasurer of Newfield Methodist Church. He has been a Rotary Club member in Gore from 1991 and in Rangiora since 1999. He was involved with Gore Community Watch from 1991 to 1999. He has volunteered with Meals on Wheels Kaiapoi since 2007 and is past President of Waimakariri Combined Probus Club and the Waimakariri branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists. Mr Lang has had varying involvement with North Canterbury Radio Trust, Kaiapoi RSA, and has served 37 years as a volunteer firefighter.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
LEAR, Mrs Heather Dorothy
For services to inclusive education
Mrs Heather Lear has a background in law and social work and has advocated to the national level for children with learning disabilities, especially communication challenges.
Mrs Lear began her advocacy as a parent of a daughter with developmental verbal dyspraxia and has extended her efforts to support other families. She has project managed and contributed to research in New Zealand to lift awareness and get a better understanding of young people with learning support needs and helped create a community for parents of children with communication disorders. She was co-convenor for the Inclusive Education Action Group (IEAG) since 2016, representing their views in a range of forums. She led the Voices Project for IEAG, which produced short films of 10 young people with disabilities talking about their education experiences. She has worked as an education advocate with IHC and as a Senior Disability Rights Advisor with the Human Rights Commission. In 2010 she was appointed as parent representative to Ministerial Advisory Group on the Review of Special Education. She is an active member of Education For All, a collaborative group of disabled persons organisations, inclusive education organisations, families, teachers and principals. Between 1990 and 2009, Mrs Lear held voluntary roles with the Wellington Community Law Centre, Wellington Montessori Preschool Trust, and New Zealand Dyspraxia Support Association.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
LEIGH-MACKENZIE, Mr Ian Christopher, JP
For services to the community
Mr Ian Leigh-MacKenzie has contributed to the Far North community in a range of capacities.
As a hotel/motel owner, and lately as the owner of the iconic local Opononi takeaways, Mr Leigh-Mackenzie is recognised for volunteering his time and effort in supporting local community matters. As a long-standing member and chairman of the Pakanae Water Board for 30 years, he has helped to ensure a reticulated water supply that provides high quality potable water to the households and a marae in the Hokianga. After the prominent statue of Opo the dolphin was damaged, he was instrumental in organising first the stone for the repair to the original statue, then organising the funding for a bronze replacement. He has worked with various historical groups to ensure the preservation of the history of Opononi and the Hokianga region. He has variously a member of the Pakanae Cemetery Committee, the Opononi Lions Club, the Hokianga Historical Society, the Far North Justices of the Peace Association, the Opononi RSA Hall Committee, and the Opononi/Omapere Ratepayers Association. Mr Leigh-MacKenzie is judicial Justice of the Peace with the Kaikohe Court and frequently travels to Kaikohe to help with court business.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
LIVINGSTON, Miss Judith Elaine (Judy)
For services to music and the community
Miss Judy Livingston has had a life-long involvement with community bands and musical theatre groups in Gisborne.
Miss Livingston was committee member and Vice President for two years of the New Zealand Concert Bands Association between 2008 and 2012. She was committee member and Vice President for two years of New Zealand Sister Cities Inc. between 2008 and 2015. She has held multiple roles with Gisborne Concert Band since the 1970s, raising $160,000 in philanthropic grant funding during time as President, Secretary, Committee and Grants Advisor. Since 2000 she has delivered a free public concert series throughout January each year, which have been attended by thousands over the years. She has supported the delivery of several national conventions in Gisborne on a voluntary basis, including for the Women’s Institute and New Zealand Potters, helping organise funding grants, community networking and event registration. She has been a Trustee of Tairawhiti Positive Ageing Trust and Community Gisborne Charitable Trust since their inception, writing both Trust Deeds. She has also been involved with Gisborne Community House Trust and Music Services Young Musicians Trust in Wellington. She has secured grant funding for rehabilitation support programmes for Stroke Tairawhiti. Miss Livingston has and organised a charity knit sale annually for five years and has received several local community awards.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
LUXTON, Mr Ronal Arthur, JP
For services to health and the community
Mr Ronal Luxton is a retired pharmacist and has served the South Canterbury district by leading fundraising appeals, holding governance roles in the education and health sectors, and volunteering with Lions Clubs International on a regional, national and international level.
Mr Luxton has been a member of the Temuka Lions Club since 1974 and has held a number of leadership positions with the Lions Clubs, including as the elected director on the International Board for New Zealand, Australia, Islands of the Pacific and Indonesia from 1994 to 1996 with Lions Clubs International. He has received a number of awards for his service with the Lions Clubs. He was a member of the Temuka High School Board of Trustees (now Opihi College) for 18 years and served as its chair for a term. He led efforts to fundraise for an MRI scanner in South Canterbury that would remove the need to travel to Christchurch for MRIs and raised more than three million dollars for the equipment in 18 months. Mr Luxton is currently the Chair of the Aoraki MRI Charitable Trust and has been Chair of the South Canterbury District Health Board since 2017.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
MARWAT, Mr Habib Ullah
For services to Muslim and ethnic communities
Mr Habib Marwat has volunteered in Muslim and South East Asian communities in Canterbury and wider New Zealand for the past 12 years.
Mr Marwat has held various roles with the Muslim Association of Canterbury, including time as President and Councillor with the Federation of Islamic Association of New Zealand. He has helped initiate and assisted with sports events for youth from ethnic communities. He has co-led organising an ethnic girl’s/women’s sports programme and worked on improving Canterbury Sunday Cricket to empower ethnic youth and bring multi-ethnic communities together through sports. He assisted in introducing affordable iftar programmes for the Canterbury Muslim community during Ramadan in Masjid Al Nur. He actively supports refugees settling in New Zealand. He is employed with the Department of Corrections and has facilitated close working relationships between governmental and non-governmental organisations amongst ethnic communities nationally. He was instrumental in organising numerous meetings for the Prime Minister and Ministers with the Muslim community and held a key role in organising hui with the community on the Royal Commission of Inquiry Report following the 15 March 2019 terror attack. He worked to connect victims of the terror attack with services and direct queries from families to appropriate forums. Mr Marwat is active in the interfaith space in bridging gaps between communities and faith-based groups.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
OFFICER, Mrs Yvonne Mavis
For services to victim support
Mrs Yvonne Officer has volunteered with Victim Support Invercargill for 25 years and continues to be on call to provide help day or night.
Mrs Officer has spent many hours attending training days to better support victims of suicide and assault and has supported victims in court during the legal processes. She has provided help to more than a thousand victims and families over 550 support assignments during her years of volunteering. Since 2011, she has volunteered as a support worker for St John at Kew Hospital in the Emergency Department (ED) and the Children’s Ward. She has been the volunteer 2IC (second in charge) in the ED, providing assistance to lighten the load of nurses and allied staff and training new volunteers. She was Team Leader in the Children’s Ward until 2018, interviewing and training new volunteers and coordinating rosters. Mrs Officer has also delivered Meals on Wheels and fundraised for various other charities, particularly the Blind Foundation during collection days.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
OH, Mrs Mila Kim
For services to Korean culture and New Zealand-Republic of Korea relations
Mrs Mila Oh established the YeMyung-Won New Zealand branch in Auckland in 2013.
YeMyung-Won is a non-profit organisation teaching Korean traditional etiquette, culture and tea ceremony. As the Master of Korean Tea Ceremonies, Mrs Oh has provided classes to New Zealanders wanting to learn and experience Korean culture. She has trained more than 30 traditional tea ceremony specialists. She has demonstrated Korean tea ceremonies at high schools, universities and libraries in Auckland, as well as for Consulate of the Republic of Korea-hosted events. She has presented a Gyu-bang Korean tea ceremony at the annual Korean Society of Auckland and Asian Culture Festival at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. She has played a key role in building cultural knowledge of South Korea through her collaboration with the Korean Society of Auckland, which holds more than 40 events annually, and the Korean Education Centre in New Zealand. Mrs Oh has been recognised by Korean organisations and the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea with certificates of appreciation and has won prizes at the World Tea Art Contest in 2019 and the Korean Traditional Ettiquette and Tea Ceremony Competition in 2013.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
PAPESCH, Ms Te Rehia Teresa Fay
For services to the community and public service
Ms Te Rehia Papesch has been a public servant since 1985 and Regional Commissioner for the Ministry of Social Development for more than 22 years, currently working in the Waikato region.
Ms Papesch is the Regional Public Service Lead for the Waikato region, representing as the senior lead for all public service agencies in the region. She is Co-Chair of the Caring for Communities Oversight Committee and the Regional Leadership Group. She led the MSD response to COVID-19 in the Waikato region, working across agencies and setting up an iwi hotline, and continues to take on an integral role in resurgence planning. She has been involved with the Waikato Regional Housing Initiative and the Waikato Wellbeing Project. She has been involved with many community boards and committees in the areas of kaumatua well-being, marae, education, and youth offending. She was a long-standing member of the Fraser High School Board of Trustees and was previously the Chair of both the Ngaruawahia High School Board of Trustees and the Expert Advisory Panel for Rauawaawa Kaumatua Social Services. She is Secretary/Treasurer of Hui Te Rangiora Catholic Marae Incorporated, and a former Chair of Taioha Toa, a charitable trust with the Hamilton Police that enhances community safety through reducing youth offending.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
POUESI, Reverend Victor Siaosi
For services to the Samoan community
Reverend Victor Pouesi has been minister of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa in Mangere East since 2002.
Reverend Pouesi set up a homework centre in the church hall, which has run since 2008 and is supported by the University of Otago, which has offered scholarship opportunities for year 12 and 13 students. He also initiated a playgroup in the church hall, volunteering with others to provide education and care for families in the Mangere community who could not afford the local preschools. The Taeaofou i Puaseisei Playgroup was established in 2006 and has since grown into two purpose-built licensed buildings with more than 100 families attending each year. He played a key role in sourcing funding for these Early Childhood Education Centres to be established. These two Samoan bi-lingual preschools help provide opportunities for children to embrace their Samoan culture and heritage, while providing local employment opportunities. For 12 years he has coordinated the ’13 Days of Christmas’ event, a programme of nightly performances by church and choir groups, with meals also provided for the performers and the community. In 2019 Reverend Pouesi hosted an Institutional and Careers Expo at the church with 30 agencies attending and more than 300 families.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
PRIME, Miss Anita Ruth
For services to youth and the community
Miss Anita Prime is a singer, songwriter, and CEO of Prime Music Academy who has undertaken charitable work in local New Zealand communities and performed at numerous charitable concerts.
Miss Prime helped establish Team X in Palmerston North to provide life skills through peer education. Team X partnered with local schools and taught years 7 to 10, particularly more at-risk youth. This team became the second most utilised youth agency in the Manawatu looking after around 600 youth a year and she undertook this volunteer work for five years. From 2003 to 2005 she volunteered in the Highbury district, helping feed the poor and working with troubled youth in an area noted for crime and gang violence. In 2008 she worked with a group of at-risk Māori youth to write and produce a song that received radio air play. She continues to support the Highbury community through Palmerston North’s Legacy Centre. From 2012 to 2015 she organised a free Sunday meal in the Avalon/Naenae area, with these monthly events becoming fortnightly and regularly serving 100 people. In 2016 she established a community gospel choir in Whitianga and a bi-weekly youth club which now has around 50-60 attendees. Miss Prime provides free singing lessons for under privileged children and sponsors children with musical potential.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
REEKIE, Mr Alan John
For services to performing arts governance
Mr Alan Reekie has been involved with performing arts governance for many years, enabling many young people to participate in the performing arts in Auckland.
Mr Reekie has been a Committee member of the North Shore Performing Arts Society since the 1980s. The Society organises annual competitions for most genres of the Performing Arts. These competitions organised by the Society offer children and young adults the opportunity to perform to an audience and have their performances critiqued by an independent adjudicator. He was Vice-President of the Society in 1987, Vocal Convenor from 1990 to 2017, and President from 1992 to 2018. He has been Secretary of the North Shore Theatre and Arts Trust (the PumpHouse Theatre) from 2007, and was Treasurer from 2011 to 2014, being made a Life Member in 2018. The PumpHouse has flourished during his tenure with increased audience and hirer numbers, and his continued involvement has played a large part in the growth and stability of the organisation. Mr Reekie has been valued as a Board member for his knowledge of constitutional documents, keeping up with changing regulatory requirements, his willingness to help others acquire the skills needed to govern effectively, and for stepping in to help with organisational matters as required.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
REID, Mrs Diana Helen
For services to cancer support
Mrs Diana Reid helped to establish the Malvern Cancer Support Group in Darfield in 1983 after identifying a need for a local group and held the Coordinator role for many years.
Mrs Reid’s role as Coordinator included providing transport to hospital for people receiving treatment, supplying affected families with meals, offering cleaning and gardening services, and providing companionship and moral support. She is still an active member of the group after 37 years. She has also been involved with fundraising for the Cancer Society of New Zealand Canterbury – West Coast Division, including Daffodil Day and Relay for Life since 1983. Mrs Reid is well regarded as a dedicated volunteer and an inspirational and practical role model to people in her community facing the challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
RILEY, Mrs Jannette Leah (Jan)
For services to cancer support and fundraising
Mrs Jan Riley has volunteered for the Nelson Tasman Hospice and the Nelson/Tasman Cancer Society for more than 30 years.
Mrs Riley has held multiple roles across the Nelson Tasman Hospice, including working as a family support volunteer directly with patients for 22 years. She has coordinated the Tree of Remembrance, an annual Hospice promotion, for 18 years. Since 2013 she has been responsible for sending cards and letters to bereaved families in her area and coordinating the local raffle promotion. She established a service offering birthday flowers for patients and for more than ten years has coordinated the Monday Club, a support group for cancer and hospice patients and bereaved families. She has applied her organisational skills as the paid manager of the first Hospice shop in her area. She has volunteered for 31 years with the Nelson/Tasman Cancer Society as the Daffodil Day Area Co-ordinator for Motueka. During this time she has grown the volunteer base in the Motueka region to more than 100 volunteers. She is responsible for planting, mowing, and spraying, delivering and collecting donation boxes, organising the stalls, organising a group of 70 pickers, and documenting the funds raised. Mrs Riley’s efforts have made a significant contribution to the success of these fundraisers for the Cancer Society.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
ROBERTS, Mrs Yvonne Esther
For services to quilting and patchwork craft
Mrs Yvonne Roberts has been involved with the quilting and patchwork community since 1991 as an exhibitor, committee member, tutor and judge.
Mrs Roberts helped established Picton Quilters in 1994 and was a committee member responsible for tutoring and exhibition organisation. She helped organise exhibitions in 2001, 2005 and 2010 and was co-convenor of the symposium ‘Parallel 41’ in Picton in 2008. She developed a tutorial for tutors, which has helped raise the standard of the craft throughout the country. She was a foundation member of Aotearoa Quilters, member of the Executive Committee from 1996 to 1998 and Treasurer from 1998 to 2002. She was delegate to the Australian Council of Quilters Conference in 2001. She has attended classes in the United States and brought back techniques to pass on to New Zealand quilters. She taught patchwork and quilting to indigenous peoples in Northern Thailand in 2004. Following the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes she drove an initiative which led to the distribution of more than 350 quilts to affected Christchurch residents. In 1995 Mrs Roberts created a quilt which was raffled and raised $3,500 towards an MRI unit for Marlborough Hospital, and continues to support an initiative for neo-natal quilts for premature babies.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
ROBINSON, Mrs Benita Jane
For services to the community
Mrs Benita Robinson has been involved with the leadership group of Victory Christian Centre, providing service to faith-based groups and those in need in the community.
Mrs Robinson became Centre Manager of Lower Hutt Christians Against Poverty (CAP) in 2014 through Victory Christian Centre. She provides debt coaching through CAP as a visiting debt coach for clients in their homes. As of 2020, more than 140 client families were helped by the Centre to become debt free. She has organised family social events through CAP, such as Mid-Winter Christmas evenings, fish and chips and games afternoons, weekly coffee groups, and an annual clothing giveaway. She regularly works more hours per week beyond the paid hours for her Centre Manager role. She has formed relationships with local businesses, which has led to donation of goods for events and firewood for client families, as well as a working agreement with local creditors to advise CAP if mutual clients attempt to take on more debt. She has been CAP’s Network Partnership Manager for the Lower North Island since 2018. Mrs Robinson held various roles on the Board of the Stokes Valley Toy Library from 2009 to 2012 and volunteered with the Hutt Valley Kindergarten Association Board of Trustees from 2012 to 2015, eventually becoming Chairperson.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
SANDISON, Mr John Robert, JP
For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community
Mr John Sandison was a professional firefighter with Fire and Emergency New Zealand in the Kawerau District from 1974 until retiring in 2018, while simultaneously volunteering with the Rotoma Volunteer Fire Brigade for 45 years.
Mr Sandison was Officer in Charge of Rotoma Brigade for a number of years. He contributed significantly to volunteer training, retention and succession planning for the Brigade while operating in an often transient community, and ensured on his retirement that the Brigade was well staffed to continue providing emergency response for Lake Rotoma and neighbouring communities. He was the Kawerau Fire Brigade delegate to the New Zealand Firefighter Professional Union (NZFPU) for several years and was made an Honorary Life Member in 2018. He was a member and Chair of the Board of Trustees of Lake Rotoma Primary School between 1991 and 2000, and also undertook school ground caretaker roles. He helped build an obstacle course used by the Rotorua East Lakes school cluster, has coordinated fire safety programmes for schoolchildren, and provided transport for academic and sporting events. Mr Sandison has been a Justice of the Peace within the Rotorua District and Rotoma community since 1992.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
SANELE, Mrs Taualoa Lalopua (Lalopua)
For services to the union movement and Samoan community
Mrs Lalopua Sanele has been active with her local churches and was a prominent union advocate.
From 1972 to 2010 Mrs Sanele was a member of the St Anne’s Catholic Church Choir in Newtown, and was a member and Treasurer of St Anne’s Samoan Mother’s Group from 1974 to 1985. She was elected Treasurer for the Church’s Samoan community until 2000. She is now active with St Josephs Parish in Mount Victoria. In 1987 she was elected as a union workplace delegate for the then Wellington Hotel and Hospital Workers Union, now E tū. She then joined the union’s regional executive and became regional convenor of the union’s Komiti Pasifika. She was elected National Convenor of Komiti Pasifika in 2003, joining E tū’s national executive until 2019. She has represented the union at the biennial New Zealand Council of Trade Union Komiti Pasifika fono and the South Pacific and Oceania Council of Trade Unions Conference. She was prominent in the campaign from 1999 to 2004 to gain an amendment to the Employment Relations Act to protect the jobs and working conditions of cleaners during tendering processes. Mrs Sanele has appeared before Parliamentary Select Committees for the union supporting improvements in statutory annual leave, rest breaks and improved rights for elected workplace representatives.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
SHELTON, Mr Gregory John Loisel (Greg)
For services to the community
Mr Greg Shelton has volunteered with Civil Defence in Tolaga Bay since 1990 and is currently Area Coordinator as of 2019, having been a long-term Sector Warden for the southern part of Uawa.
Mr Shelton has been a member of Uawa ANZAC Committee since 1990. He maintains the soldiers plot at Tolaga Bay Cemetery, used for ANZAC Day services annually. He was involved with the refurbishment of Reynolds Hall, having been a Trustee of the Hall from 1990 and serving time as Chairman. He has supported his local Surf Lifesaving Club, clearing driftwood from the beach in front of the Club building with his tractor and supporting Kaiua beach races. He was a Trustee of Uawa FM Radio Committee from 2006 to 2016. He coached Uawa Junior Rugby from 1999 to 2015. He has been involved with the Uawanui Environmental Sustainability Project. Mr Shelton was recognised with Gisborne District Council’s Citizens Civic Award in 2018.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
STEEL, Mrs Elizabeth Margaret (Betty)
For services to the community
Mrs Betty Steel has made significant contributions to West Otago’s Heriot community since 1945.
Mrs Steel joined the Kelso and West Otago Plunket Society in 1947 and was made a Life Member. She knits clothing, blankets and teddy bears for Plunket, Starship Hospital and the Neonatal Units in both Christchurch and Dunedin. She has used her extensive baking, cooking, and crafting skills to assist a number of groups and organisations in fundraising. She has been involved with the Country Women’s Institute since 1946, including as President of the Kelso Branch, and more recently Moa Flat Rural Women since 2010. She joined the West Otago Vintage Club in 1986 and helped form a combined committee with Balclutha, Lawrence, Milton, and Owaka so the local museums could share ideas and combine resources to access funding. She was made a Life Member in 2013. She was involved in catering at the Gore Aero Club for ten years. She spent many years as a member and caterer at the Heriot Golf Club, where she was on the executive committee until 2008, and the Heriot Bowling Club. Mrs Steel is an Elder of the Presbyterian Church, a helper at Heriot School’s Craft Week, and a member of the local RSA.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
TAYLOR, Mrs Vanessa Ann
For services to bowls and the community
Mrs Vanessa Taylor has made a significant contribution to the development of the Stokes Valley Bowling Club and Stokes Valley Community Childcare Centre.
Mrs Taylor has been Secretary of Stokes Valley Bowling Club for seven years and has been instrumental in securing business sponsorship. She has played a key role in making the club more accessible, promoting the club and sport more widely through social media and helping the Club achieve Gold Club Check Award with Bowls New Zealand, Wellington Club of the Year 2020 and Bowls New Zealand Club of the Year 2018. She helped introduce a new club uniform and her funding knowledge helped obtain $15,000 to outfit all members with a free uniform, and obtain new equipment, fences and an Automated External Defibrillator. She has worked as a teacher aide with special needs students in the Hutt Valley for many years. She was a driving force behind the establishment of the Stokes Valley Community Childcare Centre in 2007, serving as inaugural Chair and later as Secretary and Treasurer. She was pivotal in finding and establishing new premises for the Childcare Centre in 2015 at Tui Glen School. Under Mrs Taylor’s guidance, funding of $80,000 was secured and the Centre’s mortgage was paid off in three years.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
TRINDER, Mr Kenneth Terrance (Ken)
For services to Māori and the community
Mr Ken Trinder has been active with his two hapū, Puketapu and Pukerangiora and his marae Muru Raupatu and Kairau of the Te Ātiawa iwi since 1974.
Mr Trinder has held most committee roles and is currently Chair of Muru Raupatu Marae. He has implemented fundraising policies and ensured hapū property is well maintained. Since 1998 he has practised the art of carving, Te Toi Wai Whakairo, and has advised many institutions promoting the Te Atiawa style of carving. Since 2010 he has been an active member and supporter of the Kaumatua Kāunihera o Ngā Whare Taonga o Puke Ariki (Kaumatua Advisory Group), which advises the museum on Taranaki tikanga and kawa. He particularly advises on matters to do with returned koiwi tangata. Since 2012 he has been a hāpu kaitiaki and monitor of historic sites, ensuring that heritage or archaeological work is carried out appropriately. He has repatriated more than 100 individual remains. From 1988 to 2001 he was volunteer caterer for Taranaki Land Search and Rescue. His involvement with rugby league spans from playing at club and provincial representative level in the mid-1970s to Taranaki team trainer and age group representative coach, selector and manager between 1985 and 1993, and officiating as a club level referee until 1998.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
TYSON, Mr Paul Eric
For services to sport and the community
Mr Paul Tyson has had a lifetime involvement with sport in a voluntary capacity, particularly athletics, from grassroots to national governance level.
Mr Tyson taught for 42 years in Whanganui, Southland and Dunedin before retiring from Kaikorai Valley College in 2014. He has been extensively involved in sports administration as a volunteer coach, manager, event official, organiser, and support worker. He has managed everything from local and regional after school activities, senior track and field athletics, the South Island Colgate Games, to the international Pacific Games, where he has acted as the travelling Assistant Coach/Manager for New Zealand athletes. He was President of the New Zealand Children’s Athletics Association from 1998 to 1999 and Athletics Otago from 2001 to 2007. He has been involved with rugby union as a referee and since 1995 as a referee coach and mentor. He is highly valued as a coach, assessor and mentor to referees in Dunedin and Otago across all club grades. He has been a Board member of the Dunedin South Lions Club for 20 years, Secretary since 2014, and was President in 2004/2005. He has been involved with Junior Chamber International (JCI) New Zealand. Mr Tyson is a Life Member of Otago Children’s Athletics, New Zealand Children’s Athletics, and Athletics Otago.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
UTUMAPU, Mrs Rachael Anne
For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and people with cancer
Mrs Rachael Utumapu became Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s (FENZ) first female career firefighter in the New Plymouth Brigade in 2003.
Mrs Utumapu has been a senior trainer, coordinator and member of the national management team for the Fire Awareness Intervention Programme (FAIP) since 2006. She has written and designed FAIP programme and resource materials and managed a nationwide team to deliver more than 5,500 interventions with young recidivist fire setters. She has twice won the New Zealand Fire Service firefighter scholarship to undertake research in the United States on FAIP and diversity and inclusion. She was a founding member of the Women in Fire and Emergency New Zealand (WFENZ) National Women Advisory Committee and is a former Chair and current member of the Te Ūpoko Region Women’s Advisory Network (RWAN). She has been Manager of the FENZ Women’s Development Team since 2019. She has been facilitator for Look Good Feel Better ‘Facing Cancer with Confidence’ in Taranaki since 2009, helping raise funds and to develop and deliver a nationwide men’s programme. She co-established the New Hair Project in New Plymouth in 2017, providing wigs for people with hair loss from cancer treatment and other medical causes. Mrs Utumapu has been a volunteer speaker in the community on fire safety and supporting those affected by cancer.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
WARD, Mrs Kim Heather
For services to the community
Mrs Kim Ward is an active hands-on volunteer in her community of Paremoremo and is a leader for local community activities, fund raising, and organising working bees.
Mrs Ward runs an email post which has become the community ‘hub’ to keep the rural community connected and informed and set up the Paremoremo trade and exchange system. She produced the Pare Publisher community newsletter for five years until 2018, coordinated 11 Neighbourhood Support groups, and organises annual events such as the ANZAC Dawn Service in Paremoremo, the annual children’s Christmas party, local dances, community garage sales, and history evenings. She has driven environmental initiatives based around the Sustainable Paremoremo Group (SusPare), of which she has been Chair since 2018. She has overseen initiatives such as the Pare Spare Fare stall for distributing local excess produce, battery recycling and annual community clean-up days. She developed a partnership with Auckland Prison whereby locals donate old bicycles that inmates refurbish, which were then given to Women’s Refuge and Oranga Tamariki. Mrs Ward was instrumental in refurbishing the Sanders Community House at Sanders Reserve, which has made the space available for community groups and activities and was an active member of the Paremoremo Community Club Trust, which looked after the operation and governance of the Paremoremo Community Club.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
WHITE, Mrs Janice Valida (Jan)
For services to seniors and people with disabilities
Mrs Jan White has been responsible in a professional and voluntary capacity for developing services and care in the Hamilton community for older people and those living with disabilities.
Mrs White is a staunch advocate for the wellbeing and rights of seniors and people with disabilities. She has a long history serving on various not-for-profit Boards and Trusts at a national and local level, with a strong focus on culture inclusivity. A former health professional, she has been involved with the Ministry of Health Disability Services and Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) in the development of national guidelines, packages of care and services to support quality of life for people with disabilities. She is a member of Waikato District Health Board Agewise Advisory Group, a Board member of Age Concern New Zealand and Alzheimers New Zealand, a past Board member and President of Age Concern Hamilton, past member of Hamilton City Council’s Older Persons Advisory Group, a Nominated Person supporting youth during Police interviews, a Board member and patroller for West Hamilton Community Patrol, and an honorary Rotarian of Frankton / Te Rapa Rotary.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
WU, Mr Gordon
For services to the Chinese community
Mr Gordon Wu has been active in Wellington’s Chinese community and was President of the Tung Jung Association for ten years, remaining an active committee member from 2013 to 2020.
The Association was set up in 1926 for people from the Tung Gwoon and Jung Seng counties of Guangdong, China to help new arrivals settle in New Zealand and provide cultural and social activities. Mr Wu first joined the Association’s committee in 2000. As President he increased heritage activities, organised visits to ancestral graves, has taken groups to visit the home villages in China, increased membership, and maintained the Association’s building. He has been a long-term member of Chinese Anglican Mission Church and supports the Wellington Chinese Sports and Cultural Centre. He has been steadily hands-on at working bees, fundraising events and community dinners. He has supported growth of the Oriental Cultural and Performing Arts Group since 2014 and is a committee member of Wellington Chinese Association. He contributed to the New Zealand Chinese Association ‘SS Venator’ memorial project and was one of the original members of a group promoting the building of a Chinese garden in Wellington. Through his knowledge of Chinese early settler families, Mr Wu has helped hundreds of people reconnect with their genealogy and has helped produce several books.