The Queen’s Service Medal:
AUGUST, Mrs Heniaka
For services to Māori and the community
Ms Heniaka August (Ngāti Kahungungu Ki Te Wairoa, Rongomaiwahine) has been involved with the Māori Wardens in the Wellington region since 2009.
Ms August has been the Coordinator for the Ngāti Toa Māori Wardens in Porirua since 2009. Ngāti Toa Māori Wardens were formally recognised by Wellington City in 2015 and by Porirua City in 2016. She has coordinated the Wardens on several major events, supporting the Royal New Zealand Police College with events including tangi, Remembrance Days, Police Recruit Graduations and Open Days. She has helped patrol the Titahi Bay Beach Festival, CreekFest and Māori Language Week Parades, as well as Police-led operations. She provides advice to Police recruits on working with Māori youth and performs the kaikaranga during pōwhiri. She has been a mentor for the Porirua Pacific Community Patrollers for five years, helping patrol members to become familiar with the community and operate safely. She was named as part of the 25 Influential Wāhine of Porirua in 2018 by Porirua City Council in commemoration of 125 years of women’s suffrage. Ms August received a Wellington City Council Award in 2021 for her contributions.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
BARRIBALL, Mrs Peggy Ann, JP
For services to the community
Mrs Peggy Barriball has contributed to the Waitakaruru and Thames community for more than 30 years.
Mrs Barriball was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 2010 and has held several roles with the Hauraki Justices of the Peace Association, including President and Vice President. She established a JP service desk in Ngatea to provide notary services to the rural community in Hauraki Plains. She has been a financial mentor and governance member of the Thames Budgetary Services for 16 years. She has been involved with the New Zealand Plunket Society for 30 years and has held various roles including President, Secretary and Treasurer. She was President of the Waitakaruru Playcentre Association. She has held management/governance roles with the Western Firth Catchments Group Trust, Family Safety Services Trust, Seagull Centre Trust, Thames Valley Special Olympics and Waitakaruru Community Hall Committee. She has supported the regional farming community by managing events, including ensuring that the Waitakaruru School Calf Club and Hauraki Plains Agricultural Club Group Day went ahead in 2022, despite COVID-19 disruptions. Mrs Barriball was a Trustee and Treasurer of the Treasury Research Centre and Archive in Thames for three years and has been Treasurer of A Place at the Table Trust since 2018, which provides a community Christmas lunch for more than 100 people annually.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
BUCHAN, Ms Dianne Joy (Di), JP
For services to the community and environment
Ms Di Buchan began her volunteering as President of the Whangārei Branch of the Women’s Electoral Lobby, before moving to Wellington and initiating the Riddiford Street Project which led to the revitalisation of the Newtown shopping centre and the annual Newtown Festival.
For 10 years Ms Buchan served on the Wellington Civic Trust, with seven years as Chair. The Trust ran regular seminars and held award ceremonies to celebrate the new developments in the city. She founded and chairs the Friends of Ōtaki Rotunda, established to save the rotunda building at the old Ōtaki Children’s Health Camp, running more than 40 tours to raise awareness of the Camp’s history and organising events to raise funds for the restoration. For seven years she served as a trustee of the Ōtaki Museum helping organise exhibitions and writing regular newspaper columns on local history. She is a trustee of the Whakahiko-Energise Ōtaki Trust board, established to make Ōtaki self-sufficient in energy through a range of initiatives including a solar farm. She has established a charitable trust to assist landowners wanting to adopt more environmentally sustainable practices. For six years Ms Buchan served as Vice-President of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand and now co-chairs the working group established to integrate indigenous environmental knowledge into mainstream environmental practice.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
CARR, Mrs Colleen Helen
For services to the community
Mrs Colleen Carr has been active in the Lake Hāwea community for 24 years with community organisations, fundraising and events.
Mrs Carr has been involved with the Lake Hāwea Community Centre committee since 2010 and during that time has held the positions of Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and Secretary. She has been a member of the Foreshore Management Group since 2010, working to enhance the lakefront reserve, has organised clean-ups around the town, and has undertaken gardening on a voluntary basis around the Community Centre, Hāwea Bowling Club and other areas. She has organised quiz nights, village dinners at the Community Centre to celebrate volunteers and at mid-winter, as well as Christmas picnics. She set up a Friday evening group for families in Hāwea, with a monthly barbeque and activities for children. She established the monthly village meet and greet, particularly encouraging new residents to get involved in the community. She set up the Haere Mai group for people from various cultures who have settled in Hāwea, including social events and ESOL lessons. She has organised the annual Town Vs Country Waitangi Day sports contest between Hāwea Flat and Lake Hāwea. Mrs Carr founded the Wise Ones social group for over 65s and organises a range of activities, classes and outings, as well as support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
CATTLE, Mrs Stella Frances
For services to the community and seniors
Mrs Stella Cattle has contributed significantly to Auckland’s Manukau and Manurewa communities since 1979.
Mrs Cattle worked for Manukau City Council from 1979 to 2016, becoming Secretary to the Director and then Manager of Civic Events, organising various commemorative and ceremonial occasions. Following her retirement, she was an elected member and Deputy Chair of the Manurewa Local Board from 2016 to 2019. She has been a liaison for the community with the Citizens Advice Bureau, Manurewa RSA, the World War One Commemoration Committee and Friends of the Botanic Gardens for many years. She advocated for elderly communities as a Board member for Counties Manukau Age Concern and the newly formed Auckland Age Concern from 2012 to 2020. She served on the Wiri Licencing Board from 2013 to 2019 and has been a Board member of the Consumer Council at Middlemore Hospital since 2016, advocating for patients and their families. She has been Secretary for the Acacia Cove Retirement Village Residents Association since 2020 and a Board member of the Manukau Park Advisory Panel since 2021, ensuring the needs of elderly and disabled residents are considered during the development of a new health facility in Manurewa. Mrs Cattle is a current Trustee of Clendon Pride Charitable Trust, which provides support to the most vulnerable people in Clendon.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
CHERRINGTON, Mrs Venus Mary
For services to health and the community
Mrs Venus Cherrington (Ngāti Wharara, Ngāti Korokoro) is a rural nurse who has served the Hokianga Northland community, offering varied assistance including fundraising, helping at local marae, providing food at events, offering homecare assistance and providing care and comfort for those at the end of life and support for whānau.
As there are no after hours services available at the hospital, Mrs Cherrington offers her time to people in her area to call her in an emergency or to provide extra support until emergency services arrive. She initially sourced 19 AED defibrillators situated around Hokianga in registered locations and organised trainers to deliver first aid and safety with posters to these locations. Since retiring, she organises first aid updates in her local area only. With 74 percent of Hokianga being Māori, she has encouraged Māori nurses to compete their education and portfolio to become leaders and continues to support nurses to enrol and register. She helped fundraise with Te lwi o Te Roroa, a local store and the community to provide groceries to families during the COVID-19 pandemic, and prepared meals for distribution along with her husband. She was appointed as an Honorary Member of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation in 2014. Mrs Cherrington received the Te Tai Tokerau Primary Heath Organisation ACE Award in 2015 for her contributions.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
COLLIER, Mr Derek Boyd, JP
For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community
Mr Derek Collier has been involved with Whitianga Volunteer Fire Brigade since 1987 and has been Deputy Chief Fire Officer since 2018.
Mr Collier is heavily involved with a range of brigade activities from training recruits to judging national and international competitions, fundraising and catering for functions. He was made a Life Member of the Brigade in 2010. He was an original member of the Brigade’s Road Crash Rescue Team, competing in New Zealand and Australia, including winning the 2007 Auckland Provincial Challenge and title of Best Team Leader. He came second overall as Team Leader at the 2007 Australasian Challenge. Prior to the establishment of a Rescue Helicopter service in the area, he flew for Mercury Airlines which operated an Emergency Air Ambulance. He has been a Justice of the Peace in Whitianga since 2004. He offers his local business as a location for the public to engage his JP services. Mr Collier is regularly involved with the Hauraki Justice of the Peace Association, mentoring newly appointed JPs and regularly contributing to education sessions held in Whitianga.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
CORREA, Mr Ralph John, JP
For services to the Indian community
Mr Ralph Correa established the Northland Indian Association (NIA) in 2007, to unite Indian and pan ethnic communities in the region.
Mr Correa has served as Chair and board member of the NIA since establishment and has generated appreciation and education of the multicultural region. He serves as Chair of the Multi Ethnic Collective and is the ethnic community representative speaker at meetings and events regarding ethnic inclusion. He has organised the annual Diwali celebrations in Northland since 2007, the largest ethnic community celebration in the region, and it has enabled the community to showcase their diversity, including a fusion of Indian and Māori dance at the 2022 celebration. NIA organised a vigil following the 2019 terrorist attacks in Christchurch, with 1,500 people attending in support of the Muslim community. With NIA, he teamed up with the Northland District Health Board for a COVID-19 vaccine drive, which offered Indian snacks and tea to encourage families. He is President of the Kensington Cricket Club – Ethnic Youth and has been a Justice of the Peace since 2017. Mr Correa has been a Member of Lottery Northland Community Committee since 2019 and of the Community Organisation Grants Scheme Whangarei/ Kaipara Distribution Committee since 2022.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
COUSINS, Ms Lynne
For services to social welfare
Ms Lynne Cousins has had a career spanning 50 years contributing to social welfare through the Ministry of Social Development.
Ms Cousins led the project to ensure British Child Migrants received a one-off £20,000 payment from the United Kingdom Government in 2019, to compensate the children aged five to 17 who were sent to Commonwealth countries following World War II. She worked to locate the children who had been moved to New Zealand and were entitled to the payment, assisting them to claim this. She led the Ministry of Social Development’s Social Security Agreement with South Korea, implemented in 2021, streamlining pension access for 36,000 Koreans in New Zealand and the 4,000 New Zealanders living in South Korea. She delivered a programme to provide assistance to those stranded in other countries following the COVID-19 lockdown and helped New Zealand beneficiaries and pensioners stranded outside of New Zealand to receive assistance through this programme. Ms Cousins has acted as a mentor and helped provide support to those new to the Ministry of Social Development.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
DAVIS, Mr Joseph
For services to the Fijian community
Mr Joseph Davis has been dedicated in preserving Fijian traditions and values for the next Fijian and Pacific generation since migrating to New Zealand in 1975.
Mr Davis helped establish the first Fijian Radio Station in Auckland, serving as the first Radio Announcer, communicating important information, news and stories to the Fijian community. He worked with local councils, government agencies and various organisations to coordinate community initiatives in honour of Vosa Vaka-Viti and Fijian Language Week. He has been a member of the Fiji Community Association of Auckland since establishment in the early 1980s, serving as President during the 1990s. He served as Chair of the Soqosoqo ni Cakaudrove organisation between 2010 and 2017 and serves as a cultural advisor and mentor to the organisation. Through the organisation, he has aided several families in ensuring the traditions, values and customs are strengthened and providing them with resources and tools to continue at-home learning. He has helped and implement Fijian language workshops, camp programmes and school holiday programmes, leading these initiatives in fun engaging ways for the youth. Mr Davis was acknowledged as the first Honorary Language Champion for the Fijian Community in 2021 by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
DE SILVA, Dr Handunnethi Kolitha (Kolitha)
For services to health
Dr Kolitha De Silva has been a general practitioner for more than 25 years and is a Fellow of the New Zealand College of General Practitioners.
Dr De Silva is a senior partner of the Naenae Medical Centre, one of the largest doctors’ surgeries in Lower Hutt. He was one of few GPs in the Hutt Valley who offered obstetrics to expectant mothers in the region, providing 24-hour prenatal care in addition to his role as a GP. He frequently takes time outside of working hours to respond to house calls for urgent care, check on senior patients following surgery and regularly contacted patients with COVID-19 during the pandemic. He was a Director of the Lower Hutt After Hours Medical Centre and worked as a Company Doctor for the Geological and Nuclear Science Institute. He has helps train General Practice Registrars, medical students and nurse practitioners and has worked as a member of the Clinical Governance Board at Hutt Hospital. He was appointed to the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal in 2021 and worked as a Doctor Consultant for Lower Hutt’s Aroha Care Centre. Dr De Silva has been a standby doctor for Sky Stadium, a voluntary doctor for Naenae Boxing Academy, and a voluntary member of the Hutt Valley Heart Trust organisation.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
DOUGHTY, Mr Brian Leslie
For services to rural communities and outdoor recreation
Mr Brian Doughty has held leadership roles in a wide range of community groups in the Whanganui region.
Mr Doughty has been an active member of the Whanganui Tramping Club since the age of 18 and is currently President and a Life Member. In 1978 he became a foundation Trustee of the Four Friends Memorial Trust, established in memory of four Whanganui Tramping Club members who died at Aoraki Mount Cook. As Chair of the Trust since 1987, he has overseen the disbursement of more than $160,000 to causes related to the outdoors. With a lifelong career in farming, he was Provincial President of Whanganui Federated Farmers for 10 years. He was a founding Trustee and driving force behind the Ruapehu-Whanganui Rural Support Trust, which supports farming families and rural communities. He was a founding Trustee of Farming Friends of Hospice Whanganui in 2006 and as current Chair he manages a cattle grazing scheme for the hospice's benefit. He is a foundation Trustee and current Chair of Te Araroa Whanganui Trust, which oversees the Te Araroa Trail between Taumarunui and Bulls. Since 2013 Mr Doughty has represented rural communities on the Board of Jigsaw Whanganui, a family support services trust.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
DUNKERTON, Mr Richard Harold
For services to swimming
Mr Richard Dunkerton has been involved with swim coaching in Northland for more than 40 years.
Mr Dunkerton first started coaching at the Bay of Islands Swimming Club in 1976. He was appointed President and was coach at the club for more than 20 years. Under his mentorship, many of the swimmers he coached have since competed at the national level. In 1978, he joined the Northland Swimming Association and has continued as a swimming coach and examiner for the association to the present day. He has held various positions with the association for more than 40 years, including President, Secretary and Selector and was involved in the club’s Technical and Awards Committees throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He has arranged training camps and organised three ten-day tours for Northland swimmers to train in a supportive team environment. He was awarded Life Membership by the Northland Swimming Association and Bay of Islands Swimming Club in 1988 and 1989 respectively. He started coaching with the Bream Bay Swimming Club in 2003 and remains Head Coach, continuing to offer mentorship to swimmers. Mr Dunkerton has trained parents of swimmers to become involved in officiating, leading to the club having the highest number of swimming officials in the Northland Region.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
EASTHAM, Dr Mary Angela
For services to interfaith communities
Dr Mary Eastham is an active member of the Catholic community in Palmerston North, supporting interfaith activities.
Dr Eastham has been the Bishop of Palmerston North’s representative on the Bishops Committee on Interfaith Relations from 2011 to 2022. She helped establish the Palmerston North Interfaith Group (PNIG) in 2011, comprised of members of different faiths, aimed at representing the different religious traditions and faiths in the community and to work together. She served as Chair of PNIG from 2011 until 2022, holding multifaith prayer services at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit including a vigil in 2019 following the Christchurch terrorist attacks in 2019 and an anniversary vigil on the one-year anniversary of the attack. She coordinated a Faith Family Feast in 2019, a celebration amongst the interfaith community, and hosted youth sessions on global climate change and racism. She has represented PNIG at national interfaith forums, including at the 2020 Connecting Faith and Interfaith Communities in 2020, hosted by the former Office of Ethnic Communities. In 2022, a Religious Diversity Day in association with the Palmerston North City Council was held, where 300 trees were planted by members of the interfaith community. Dr Eastham has been a member of the Religious Diversity Centre since 2019.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
FORTUNE, Mr Anthony Louis (Tony), JP
For services to the community
Mr Tony Fortune has been contributing to the rural West Coast community for several years.
Mr Fortune trained as a teacher, working at schools in Reefton and Inangahua since 1974. He has been involved with the Sacred Heart Parish Church for more than 60 years, holding several positions including Chairman and Secretary. He has contributed a weekly history column to the community publication ‘The Clarion’ since 1992 and provides a daily morning report for COAST FM. As the region’s weather reporter, he has been the caretaker of the NIWA weather station in Reefton since the early 1990s, maintaining the station and collecting weather data. He has played in the Inangahua Silver Band for almost 50 years and has been President since 1980. As a member of the Westport and Greymouth Municipal Band, he has played in national competitions and special events including ANZAC commemorations. Since 2017, he has led fundraising efforts to restore the Reefton Band Hall. He was a founding member of the Reefton Athletic Harriers Club Committee in 1968 and became a committee member of the West Coast Amateur Sports Trust in 2015, which provides financial support to regional budding athletes. Mr Fortune has been a Justice of the Peace for 31 years and West Coast JPs Association President for 14 years.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
FOSTER, Mrs Catriona McDonald
For services to nursing
Mrs Catriona Foster has dedicated more than 40 years to nursing on Waiheke Island.
Mrs Foster has been a District Nurse and Senior Specialist Community Nurse for the Waiheke Health Trust since 1979. She has led and organised wound management clinics caring for vulnerable and terminally ill patients. She has managed case conferences, facilitating communication between treatment providers including Home Support, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy to ensure the best outcomes for patients. She is a founding Trustee of the Waiheke Hospice Trust, playing a key role in its establishment in 1990, which provides home-based end-of-life and palliative care for patients. The services enable individuals to remain in their own home by providing support services and supporting families to care for their loved ones at home. A significantly higher than national average of palliative individuals are able to stay at home in familiar surroundings for their final days. She has been actively involved in organising major fundraising events for the Trust. Mrs Foster has often worked additional unpaid hours due to staffing shortages to care for patients, offering home care and respite for carers requiring additional support.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
FREW, Mrs Peggy Joyce
For services to the community
Mrs Peggy Frew has served the Ohakune community for more than 50 years.
Mrs Frew was Chair and Secretary of Ohakune Plunket Society between 1968 and 1975 and President of the Ohakune Primary School Parent Teacher Association from 1975 to 1980. She chaired the Recruitment Committee for Whanganui Education Board between 1980 and 1986 and was an educational tutor for more than 20 years. She has been involved with the Whanganui Cancer Society, serving as the Regional Coordinator for 20 years and on the executive for ten years, with four years as Chair. She has been involved with the Ohakune Garden Club for 30 years, including time as President and Secretary. Since 2014, she has been involved in the joint venture Ohakune Carrot Park Trust, to develop the Ohakune Carrot land into an adventure park. She has taken the lead on fundraising, submitting applications and collecting donations to continue improving and adding to the adventure park, which has five big vegetable statues for children to play around, and has helped fundraise $2.5 million to date for the Trust. She was a Councillor for a term from 1988 on the Waimarino District Council. Mrs Frew was a member of Ruapehu College Board of Governors from 1980 to 1986, and was Chair from 1983.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
GILLARD, Mrs Shirley Douglas, JP
For services to the community
Mrs Shirley Gillard has been involved with the Te Aroha community since 1988.
Mrs Gillard joined the Citizens Advice Bureau in Te Aroha in 1994 and has held various roles including Chairperson, Secretary and Co-ordinator/Manager. She has been a Justice of the Peace since 2004 and was President of the Te Aroha Morrinsville branch of the Justice of the Peace Association for two years. She was an Elected Member of the Matamata-Piako District Council from 2007 to 2010 and a member of the Te Aroha Community Board for 20 years, including six as Chair. She served on the Waikato West Committee Community Organisation Grants Scheme committee from 2011 to 2016 and was involved in the allocation of grants to community groups in the region. She was a committee member and Chair of the Te Aroha Family Budgeting Service and was instrumental in establishing the Te Aroha Community Foodbank in 2009 (Te Aroha Community Food Support Trust). She developed the food bank into a widely recognised community initiative, distributing food parcels to those in need. She was Chair of the Matamata-Piako Community Health Forum for six years and was a volunteer for the welfare branch of Matamata-Piako Civil Defence for 17 years. Mrs Gillard was a trustee of the Te Aroha Community Springs Trust for 11 years.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
GRAHAM, Mr Rodney James (Rod)
For services to the community
Mr Rod Graham has been actively involved in the Ōtaki community since 1970.
Mr Graham has a passion for education for all ages, beginning at Wellington Teachers College in 1968. While at St Peter Channel kura, he worked with others to establish bilingual education within the school, a first for Ōtaki. He is a founding member of the Ōtaki Pottery Club, serving as President for 22 years. During this time and on an ongoing basis, he has encouraged the arts through clay work projects such as "Clay in Schools" for tamariki and kaiako, The Festival of Pots and Garden Art, Matariki Star Glaze festival and community Raku firings, all with the aim of promoting the craft on the Kāpiti Coast. Mr Graham has been Chairperson of the Cobwebs Community Trust since 2009, which works to support people in hardship.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
HARGRAVES, Mrs Kate Lorraine
For services to the community
Mrs Kate Hargraves has been dedicated to repurposing household and essential items, clothing, and resources including stationery and books for children, for those in need within her community and for wider organisations since retiring in 2016.
Mrs Hargraves has been the Auckland region Co-ordinator for Project Uplift since 2016, who collect bras for women in need, distributing these as far as the Pacific nations. Around 20,000 bras were sent to the Pacific Islands in 2019, mainly to Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. For the Middlemore Foundation, she collects and supplies baby clothes, baby seats, crutches, wheelchairs, strollers, bedding, toys, books and reading glasses. She has supplied items including various bras, swimwear, and washable sanitary items to schools and provides items to women’s prisons. She works with Lions and various Rotary Clubs to distribute recycled reading glasses, washable sanitary items, clothing for children and babies, school uniforms, equipment including desks, chairs and tables for distribution amongst hospitals within the Pacific Islands. She organizes a daily bread run, coordinating with various bakeries and organisations to provide for families in need. Mrs Hargraves was recipient of the Margarette Golding Award, an Inner Wheel International organisation award for exceptional personal service to the community.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
HAZLETT, Mr James Donald
For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community
Mr James Hazlett joined Ranfurly Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1985 and has been Chief Fire Officer since 2005.
Mr Hazlett led the integration of the Ranfurly Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Maniototo section of the Blackstone Rural Fire Force. He was Vice President then President of the Central Otago Fire Brigades Sub Association from 2007 to 2010 and a Technical Panel member for eight years. He held Executive roles with the Otago Southland Provincial Fire Brigades Association from 2012, including President in 2015. He has been on the Otago Southland Challenge panel since 2018, the last two years as convenor. He has volunteered with the Road Crash Rescue Organisation and been involved with UFBA Challenges as a participant, coach and judge. He has volunteered for St John Ambulance in Ranfurly since 2013. He was on the St John's School Ranfurly Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2011, with six years as Chair, and designed and established an off-road carpark and a garden area for the school. He was President of Ranfurly Curling Club from 1997 to 1999, having joined in 1987. Mr Hazlett has held leadership roles with the Naseby Curling Council, including President, helping build the Naseby Indoor Curling Rink in 2002/2003, and executive roles with the New Zealand Curling Association, including President from 2012 to 2014.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
HOUSIAUX, Mr Peter Thomas
For services to surf lifesaving and canoe polo
Mr Peter Housiaux has been an active lifeguard for more than 50 years and has been involved in canoe polo since 1987.
Mr Housiaux joined the Ōtaki Lifesaving Club as a lifeguard in 1972 and has been on its committee for more than 40 years. As a lifesaving coach and mentor, he has coached many of Ōtaki Beach’s young potential lifeguards to win regional and national awards. For ten years, he trained a group of junior lifeguards aged under 13, leading them to win competitions throughout New Zealand. He has been Patrol Captain for more than 20 years and has been part of numerous lifesaving rescues at Ōtaki Beach. In 1987, he formed the Ōtaki Canoe Polo Club and has since coached at club, national and international levels. He has coached several New Zealand’s national women’s canoe polo teams. He led the New Zealand’s Women’s Division Canoe polo team to win gold at the 2016 Canoe Polo World Championships. He has been recognised with Surf Club and Regional Service Awards, Distinguished Service Awards and Surf Lifesaving Memberships, and was awarded the New Zealand Canoe Polo medal in 2008. Through his business, Mr Housiaux has sponsored community organisations including the Ōtaki Players Society, Ōtaki Volunteer Fire Brigade, and Friends of the Ōtaki River projects.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
JACKSON, Mrs Robin Ethnye
For services to swimming
Mrs Robin Jackson has had a life-long involvement with swimming and has been involved as an official and coach from a young age.
Mrs Jackson is a Life Member of Swimming Southland and has held close to every role with the club, including as President from 1992 to 1994. She was elected to the New Zealand Water Safety Council in 1990 and the New Zealand Swimming Education Board, later becoming Chair until 1997. She successfully obtained $250,000 a year for two years for the Lotto Swim Safe campaign in the mid-1990s. She was President of the New Zealand Swimming Federation from 1996 to 1999. She officiated at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland and the World Masters Swim Championships in Christchurch in 2002. Mrs Jackson was Chef de Mission for the New Zealand Aquatics team at the 1998 FINA World Cup in Perth and officiated with the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team at Kuala Lumpar in 1998.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
KNUDSON, Ms Karen Desiree
For services to choral music
Ms Karen Knudson has made a significant contribution to choral music in Dunedin for more than 30 years.
Ms Knudson was a piano and organ teacher prior to her appointment as Musical Director at Dunedin’s Knox Church in 1997. As Director, she has conducted the church and children’s choirs, encouraging participation and musical development in soloists and instrumentalists. Under her tutelage, many of her younger students have studied music at university level. She has conducted the Knox Church Choir in several performances including Handel’s ‘Messiah’ and Brahms’ ‘German Requiem’. She led a performance of Karl Jenkins’ ‘The Armed Man’, resulting in the choir being invited to take part in the International Peace Choir Concert held in Berlin in 2019. She was Choir Musical Director of the Otago Girls and Boys High School Choirs for more than ten years. She organised several trips nationally and overseas and led the choirs’ participation in the New Zealand Choral Federation’s The Big Sing Competition each year. Under her direction, the choirs regularly advanced to the national finals. In 2015, the choirs were invited to participate in the 32nd Shanghai Spring International Music Festival. Ms Knudson has been the Musical Director of the Dunedin RSA Choir for nine years and has played double bass for the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra since 2005.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
LALE, Reverend Alofa Ta'ase
For services to the community
Reverend Alofa Ta’ase Lale has been supporting the Pacific and wider community for more than 25 years.
Reverend Lale is a Presbyterian Church minister and the only ordained Pacific woman minister in the Dunedin community. She has served on the Dunedin Samoan Minister’s Council since 2018. She has ministered in the Otago Peninsula Presbyterian Parish, Dunedin South Presbyterian Church and is currently Associate Minister at First Church of Otago. She has been a Trustee on the Otago Community Trust Board since 2021, a member of the Otago Polytechnic External Pacific Advisory Group since 2019, a member of the Kaitiaki group of the Ōtepoti Community Builders Network and is supportive of numerous Pacific community initiatives and events. She is a trained teacher and has taught in primary and secondary schools in Porirua for more than 15 years and worked as the Pacific Liaison Officer at Victoria University of Wellington from 1999 to 2002. She has been working as the Mission Coordinator at Mercy Hospital, Dunedin since 2016. In 2018 she utilised her teaching experience to establish the Mercy Centre of Learning, which provides a safe and nurturing space for senior Māori and Pacific students from Dunedin high schools to receive weekly tutoring from university students. Reverend Lale is the immediate past National President of PACIFICA Inc.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
LEMON, Mr Richard Hunter
For services to the agriculture and pastoral industry
Mr Richard Lemon has been involved in the Agricultural and Pastoral (A&P) events in the Canterbury and Ashburton region since 1976.
Mr Lemon has been a committee member of Ashburton A&P Association since 1976, serving as President between 1994 and 1995 and is currently Chairman of the Board. He has ensured the annual two-day show, grounds and facilities are of a high standard. He was involved with the association as a competitor with his Border Leicester Stud Sheep and is now a recognised Judge for the Border Leicester breed with the New Zealand Sheep-breeders Association. He has been a member of the Canterbury A&P Association since 1990, holding several Chairmanships of committees during a difficult period for the association. He has been a Board of Director since 2001, and was the President in 2012 during the 150th year of the association. As the full A&P show was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he catered 300 meals for the judges and stewards of the reduced events. Mr Lemon has been Director of Canterbury A&P since 2000 and served as Vice President of the Royal A&P Society from 2005 to 2009.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
LEPPER, Mrs Bernice Monica (Bernie)
For services to the community and education
Mrs Bernie Lepper has contributed to rural education and community initiatives in Alexandra for many years.
Mrs Lepper has been involved with the Alexandra Community House since its inception in 2007. She was the Establishment Chair then Chair of the Board until 2022. She played a pivotal role in the design and construction of the venue, which is a community hub housing 16 social services agencies, local arts and crafts and used by 150 community groups. She has been the manager of the Central Otago Rural Education Activities Programme (REAP) since 1998, implementing a variety of social and education initiatives to support vulnerable people in the community. She led REAP’s facilitation of Strengthening Families, an Oranga Tamariki project designed to support families and whānau at risk. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led REAP on a number of initiatives, in particular, the establishment of the Ministry of Social Development Community Connector Role, supporting community cohesion and wellbeing, partnered with Otago Polytechnic and Community House to provide a Learning Hub for residents without internet access plus digital courses. She has served for six years on REAP Aotearoa, helping grow the organisation, mentoring education leaders throughout New Zealand. Mrs Lepper was a Trustee of Central Lake Trust from 2010 to 2019.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
LEWIS, Mrs Ngaio Patricia
For services to charitable fundraising
Mrs Ngaio Lewis has volunteered with the Waiheke Island-based Jassy Dean Trust for 15 years, raising funds to help families with sick or disabled children in the local community.
Since 2008, Mrs Lewis has personally raised more than $250,000 for the benefit of children’s health through the propagation and sale of thousands of plants. She has converted her quarter-acre section into a plant nursery solely for the purpose of raising money for the Trust. She grows a variety of native and ornamental plants and her garden is open seven days a week, also attracting many visitors during the Trust’s annual Waiheke Garden Festival. She is the Trust’s major individual fundraiser, accounting for 30 percent of the annual funds raised. The Trust has supported hundreds of families with children’s health issues across accidents, illness and disability, including ongoing support for families with health needs, and transport from the Island for medical appointments. Most recently, Mrs Lewis’s contributions have funded a mental health programme at the local primary school and the Raukatuari Trust music therapy course for children with special needs.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
MARTIN, Mrs Diane Frances, JP
For services to the community
Mrs Diane Martin has contributed to community initiatives in the Bay of Plenty region for more than 40 years.
Mrs Martin was a volunteer ambulance driver for St Johns Ambulance from 1977 to 1991. She trained as an ambulance officer/paramedic in 1985 and was a Secretary and Superintendent in the adult and youth divisions of the Order of St John for several years. She has been involved with the Katikati Rugby and Sports club for 22 years, holding various roles, including Secretary to the Senior Rugby Club from 1981 to 1995. She was Club President and Ladies Patron in 2010. She was a committee member of the Katikati Athletics club for four years, helping to organise the Bay Wide Championship for competitors aged six to sixteen years. She was a Plunket committee member in Mananui, Kihikihi and Katikati for several years, serving as Plunket President in Kihikihi and Katikati. Since her retirement in 2012, she has been involved in numerous community initiatives including Katikati Archives, the town’s heritage museum and Katikati Neighbourhood Support. She has volunteered at Katikati Police Station since 2012. She held various positions with the Katikati A&P Society between 1979 and 2003. Mrs Martin served as President of the Katikati RSA and Citizens Club for three and a half years.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
MAYALL, Mr Geoffrey William (Geoff)
For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community
Mr Geoff Mayall has been a volunteer with Kaikohe Volunteer Fire Brigade since 1972, holding multiple roles including Officer and is currently Operational Support and a Life Member.
Mr Mayall was Secretary and Treasurer for 45 years and mentors new brigade members in his current role. He has organised various brigade events and celebrations, including golf fundraising tournaments. He helped run the first fire camps in Kaikohe, with brigades from the Northland area, and helped run the Auckland Association Conference when it was hosted in Kaikohe. He has served on the Northland Fire Brigades Sub Association and was President for a term in the 1980s. He has been Kaikohe delegate for the Auckland Provincial Fire Brigades Association and the United Fire Brigades Association. He has organised inter-brigade bowls and pool competitions for the Northland Sub Association. He has competed with fire brigade competition teams for Bay, Northland and Auckland, and has represented at Nationals. Within the wider community, he has been involved with various organisations including the Kaikohe Swimming Club, Kaikohe Police Blue Light discos for youth and coaching junior and senior hockey teams. Mr Mayall was on the committee of Kaikohe Golf Club, helped run tournaments, and has encouraged youth into the sport.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
MCCLINTOCK, Ms Karen Ann
For services to the community
Ms Karen McClintock has volunteered with various community organisations in South Canterbury and is employed providing in-home care for people with complex conditions, high needs, paraplegics, tetraplegics and traumatic brain injuries, also helping them stay connected socially.
Ms McClintock is currently Treasurer for the Temuka RSA and is involved with various fundraising projects. She organised the inaugural Temuka Community Christmas Dinner at the RSA to raise funds for local charitable initiatives. She helped establish a Parent-to-Parent group and a peer support group for people with depression and anxiety. She coordinates the South Canterbury Women's Peer Support group. She is a regular volunteer for Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Foundation and South Canterbury Hospice street appeal fundraisers. Ms McClintock was previously been involved with Rural Women, was a volunteer ambulance officer with St John for 15 years, a member of Temuka Volunteer Fire Brigade and is the current Treasurer of Special Olympics South Canterbury.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
NORGATE, Ms Miraka Cynthia
For services to the community
Ms Miraka Norgate (Ngā Puhi Nui Tonu) has been contributing to the community of Tasman since 1983.
Ms Norgate was instrumental in the establishment of the Waimea Kohanga Reo in 1984, and currently serves as Kuia for all Kohanga Reo in the Nelson-Tasman region. She also supported all Marae in their establishment phases in the region, including Te Awhina Marae Motueka, Onetahua Marae in Takaka, and helped with community events such as tangihanga and hui as well. She has held several governance positions across the community including as Chair of the Whakatu Māori Women’s Welfare League between 2003 and 2005, Nelson Boys’ College board of trustees between 1993 and 1995 and as member of the Richmond Waimea Returned Service Association. She has been involved with the Nelson Cancer Society for 20 years, including serving on the board since 2020. With the Whakatu Māori Women’s Welfare League and the Nelson Cancer Society, she has been promoting breast cancer screening, cervical cancer smear testing, obstetrics and paediatric women’s and children’s health as well as other health initiatives. Ms Norgate has been a committee member of the Nelson Bays Primary Health Māori Committee since 2019.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
O MA HODGES, Mrs Teremoana (Teremoana Maua-Hodges)
For services to sport and culture
Mrs Teremoana Maua-Hodges is a longstanding secretary of the Cook Islands Sports Federation of New Zealand, where she has initiated, guided and provided advice on rugby, netball, tennis and cultural activities for the regions of Auckland, Tokoroa, Hamilton, Hastings, Wellington and the South Island.
Mrs Maua-Hodges was one of the first Pacific women to become a New Zealand umpire for netball. She coached the top team of the Porirua Cook Islands Association (PCI) in the local Kapi Mana Netball Association in Porirua for several seasons. She helped establish Korero Tupuna Trust which develops educational opportunities through the promotion of Cook Islands languages and culture and has been the Chair since establishment in 2022. She has helped write funding applications to fund these initiatives and created resources for use at home. She hosts Te Reo Tupuna free online classes available nationwide and internationally, and offers in-person classes for learners. Mrs Maua-Hodges has been a writer for Huia Publishers since 2021.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
PETTINGER, Mr Antony Mark
For services to outdoor recreation
Mr Antony Pettinger has been involved with the Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club (OTMC) for more than 30 years.
Mr Pettinger joined the OTMC, the oldest tramping club in the South Island, in 1985. He became Membership Secretary of the club’s committee in 1986 and has since held a multitude of roles including Secretary, Chief Guide and Club President. He has played a key role in the club’s ongoing success, organising and leading 139 trips in 37 years. He has been Course Director for the club’s bushcraft courses for 22 years. The courses are introductory sessions designed to teach novice trampers important safety skills including river crossing techniques, clothing and gear advice, map and navigational skills and reading weather conditions. He was a member of the OTMC’s Land Search and Rescue call out list for 20 years. He had organised the club’s centenary celebrations taking place in 2023, researching and documenting the club’s entire 100-year history and planning 100 trips to be completed throughout the year, many of which he has volunteered to lead. Mr Pettinger is currently leading the creation of a new tramping track at Pineapple Point in Dunedin.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
RANGITONGA, Mr Kane Kahora
For services to social work and the community
Mr Kane Rangitonga (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tuwharetoa) has spent ten years supporting people to improve their lives and those of their whānau through his role as a manager at Kainga Aroha Trust in Te Awamutu.
Since 2012, Mr Rangitonga has grown the Trust with successful funding for programmes and initiatives to address poverty, family violence, parenting concerns, and mental health, and employed additional counsellors and social workers to offer a wide range of services. He has implemented short-term life skills programmes that people can tailor to fit their individual needs. He works directly with tamariki of whānau being supported by the Trust, many of whom have social or anger management issues, and ensures they receive effective long term follow-up care. He is well-regarded for engaging personally outside of the office with whānau to achieve solution-focused results for their individual circumstances. During COVID-19, he re-organised a food redistribution network to provide deliveries of food packages and health kits to families who were unwell or unable to shop. He has supported Fire Hawks rugby league in Te Awamutu as a coach, team manager and administrator since 1990. Mr Rangitonga is chair of Hia Kaitupeka Marae in Taumaranui and has been involved with the Rereahu Land Trust.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
REARDON, Mrs Susan (Sue)
For services to nursing
Mrs Sue Reardon contributed to nursing in New Zealand since 1972 until her retirement in 2022.
Mrs Reardon has worked as a nurse throughout the Auckland region, including at Ponsonby Medical Centre, Takapuna Hospice and Browns Bay Medical Centre. She was a practice/diabetes nurse at Manly Medical Centre in Whangaparāoa from 2010 to 2022. She played a key role in introducing Diabetes Self-Management Education in the region by leading a registered nurse led clinic once a week, resulting in many patients learning to self-manage their condition. She helped obtain funded nursing educational support for the medical centre from Comprehensive Care, a Primary Health Organisation, despite the practice not being affiliated with the organisation. She was often asked by doctors to share her clinical expertise and knowledge regarding diabetes. Mrs Reardon continues to work as a health care assistant for the Manly Medical Centre in Whangaparāoa.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
ROBBIE, Mr Neil Alexander
For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community
Mr Neil Robbie has served with the Foxton Beach Volunteer Fire Brigade since 1975 and was Deputy Chief Fire Officer from 2000 to 2011, remaining active as a Senior Firefighter.
Mr Robbie has made himself available 24/7 to attend fires, car accidents and community emergencies, as well as regular attendance at brigade meetings and training. He has been instrumental in recruiting and training young adults into the brigade and most recently he has trained to drive the brigade’s new rescue/response vehicle. He has supported the wider community, creating and maintaining trails in Ferry Reserve in Foxton Beach for cyclists and walkers, and accessible trails for people with mobility issues or infants in strollers. The Manawatu Mountain Bike Club held their Winter Biking series on trails created by him in the pine forest in Cousins Avenue, with more than 100 riders of all ages. Mr Robbie was an integral member of a small group who created a windmill sculpture in the Ferry Reserve, offering his building and engineering expertise to manufacture and erect the windmills as a tribute to Dutch New Zealand artist Leon Van Den Eijkel and connections to the Foxton Dutch community and museum.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
SCANDRETT, Ms Glenys Anne
For services to dance
Ms Glenys Scandrett has been a classical ballet dancer, choreographer and teacher for more than 65 years.
Many of Ms Scandrett’s students have gone on to become professional dancers, choreographers and teachers. She gained her Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Solo Seal examination in 1957 and was elected Associate of the RAD in 1978. She holds life membership of the RAD. She co-founded Kaikorai Valley Rhythmical Gymnastics Club (now Green Island Rhythmical Gymnastics Club). She was a Judge and Coach for New Zealand from 1971 to 1975 and Assistant Coach of the New Zealand Team at the Rhythmical Gymnastics world Games in 1973. She was the Principal Tutor for The Fortune Theatre Ballet School between 1977 and 1980 and taught advanced students for various local dance academies. She opened Scandrett Dance Academy in 1997 in Invercargill, offering classical ballet, jazz, tap and contemporary, and was elected as the Examiner for the British Ballet Organisation in 1998. Ms Scandrett was the organiser of the Otago and Southland Dance Reunion in 2018.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
SHARPE, Mrs Kirsty Jean, JP
For services to the community
Mrs Kirsty Sharpe has contributed to community initiatives in Queenstown and the Wakatipu Basin for more than 30 years.
Mrs Sharpe served three terms as a Queenstown Lakes District City Councillor from 1986 to 1995. She was a founding member of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), holding several roles over 17 years including President. Under her leadership, she helped develop the CAB into a community hub which assists 4,000 clients annually. She has been a Lay Minister with the Anglican Parish of Wakatipu for 30 years, preparing and leading worship services in Arrowtown and Queenstown and was previously a Workplace Chaplain and Marriage Celebrant. She was recognised as a Lay Minister Emeritus in 2022. She was involved with the Margaret Templeton Educational Trust from 2008 to 2021, a charitable trust which provides financial assistance to young people to gain tertiary qualifications. As a Trustee, she helped 50 students begin further study in the Wakatipu Basin. She has been on the committee of Queenstown Grey Power Inc. since 2016, initially as Treasurer for four years and as President for five years. Mrs Sharpe has been involved with the Kelvin Peninsula and Frankton Community Associations since 2012 and has been a Justice of the Peace since 1996.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
SHAW, Mr Stephen Garry
For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and hockey
Mr Stephen Shaw (Ngāi Tahu) has volunteered as an urban firefighter for more than 35 years.
Mr Shaw’s involvement with the Gore Volunteer Fire Brigade spanned 1987 to 1997, at which point he transferred to the Cromwell Volunteer Fire Brigade. He served as the Cromwell Brigade’s Chief Fire Officer between 2007 and 2021, when he stepped down to join its Operational Support Unit. In his leadership roles in the Brigade, he influenced significant changes, transforming it by implementing a training and progression system and an operational skills maintenance scheme. He developed inclusive brigades and worked to ensure they trained diligently to respond as effective units. Since 2017 he has led the Fire and Emergency Central Otago-Lakes Peer Support Team, which conducts defusing sessions following traumatic events and provides one-on-one support to firefighters experiencing personal psychological issues and trauma. He also held leadership roles in the Central Otago Hockey Association between 2006 and 2013, refreshing the organisation with a community focus, and was instrumental as Board Chairperson in the formation of Southern Region Hockey Inc. in 2010. Mr Shaw has been made a Life Honorary Member of the Cromwell Volunteer Fire Brigade, and a Life Member of the Central Otago Hockey Association.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
SINNAMON, Reverend Margaret Ruth (Penny)
For services to the community
Reverend Penny Sinnamon has supported the Central Otago and Omakau communities as a vicar and through community organisations.
Reverend Sinnamon obtained a qualification by correspondence to become ordained as a volunteer vicar for the Anglican Church. She has performed her duties as a vicar with Dunstan Parish across most of Central Otago, volunteering for many years, receiving 25 percent of a vicar’s salary for five years, and carrying on her duties after formally retiring. She is well regarded for connecting personally with people in her community, assisting them in small and impactful ways, from social visits, support through grief, to financial assistance or food in times of hardship. She supports seniors and the vulnerable, visiting them while sick, arranging support, providing social visits and outings. She volunteered as Chaplain at Omakau School, where she worked with children struggling in the classroom or feeling left out, also providing support to the children’s families where needed. She organised the school’s ANZAC Day commemorations, leading services and involving students. Within the wider community Reverend Sinnamon has been Club Captain of Omakau Golf Club, held all offices with Valley Hockey Club and her local Rural Women branch, been a member and performer with Omakau Musical Society, and has been President of Omakau Citizens Association.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
SMITH, Mr Ronald George (Ron)
For services to the community and Search and Rescue
Mr Ron Smith has been contributing to Land Search and Rescue and his community of Methven since 1989.
Mr Ronald Smith joined Methven Land Search and Rescue in 1989 and served in various positions including as Vice Chairman and Regional Representative. He served on the Management Committee between 2003 and 2020 and was nominated to serve as the National Board Member of Land Search and Rescue, holding the position for the maximum allowable amount of six years and serving as Director. As Director, he introduced training volunteers as part of the organization instead of hiring external contractors in 2017, which changed the organization for the better. He has coordinated several search and rescue missions, motivating teams and working endless hours to find missing individuals. He has been a member of Methven Lions Club since 2007, serving as President between 2011 and 2012 and has been the Treasurer since 2015. As President, he registered the organization as a Charitable Trust to ensure they are compliant with regulations and has reviewed and updated the organizations constitution which had not been changed since establishment in 1977. Mr Smith has been leading Methven Lions recent project to build a 12-kilometer-long walking and cycling track around the town.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
SMITH, Miss Sylvia Mary
For services to netball
Miss Sylvia Smith has been an active member of the netball community in the Waikato region for more than 50 years.
Miss Smith has been secretary of the Morrinsville Netball Centre since 1972 and of the Thames Valley Cluster, a collective of eight netball centres, for 34 years. A former netball player, she has coached and managed various representative netball teams and attended Netball New Zealand Council meetings from 1998 until the present. She has held several roles for the Waikato Netball Association, including manager, selector and regional secretary. She has been the driving force behind the Emerging Talent Day for schoolchildren in Years 6 to 8 to participate in the sport in the Thames Valley. She reinstated a senior representative team for the region to compete at the Netball New Zealand Open Grade Champs and played a key role in promoting and supporting a men’s competition for the netball community. She has been recognised with regional and national awards, including the Waikato Netball Service Award in 1978, Life Membership of Morrinsville Netball Centre in 1998, the Matamata Piako District Sports Award, a Netball New Zealand Service Award in 2005, and Waikato Bay of Plenty Zone Life Membership in 2022. Miss Smith has volunteered with the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic netball team since 2000.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
SRIRAMARATNAM, Dr Sivagnanaratnam (Ram)
For services to the Tamil community
Dr Ram SriRamaratnam has been contributing to the Tamil community in New Zealand since migrating in 1986.
Dr SriRamaratnam has served as Secretary and President of the Wellington Tamil Society between 1990 and 2009, a not-for-profit organisation which aims to foster the advancement of Tamil culture, language, literature and provide a sense of community. As President of the Wellington Tamil Society, he established the Lower Hutt branch in 1997, which is now the main centre for Tamil education in Wellington. He has participated in a Tamil language broadcast on Access Radio, supporting young presenters to produce and co-present programmes, in efforts to preserve the language and culture. He established the Wellington Tamil Sports Club in 1988, mentoring young people and providing a space for the betterment of their physical and mental wellbeing. He has held various positions with the Club across 30 years, including Club Captain and President, and represents the club in local cricket leagues. Dr SriRamaratnam has been involved with the Red Cross supporting Sri Lankan refugees to settle in New Zealand, with assistance in English for Speakers of Other Languages courses, school and General Practitioner enrolments.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
TE AU-THOMSON, Mrs Marcia Rei, JP
For services to seniors, Māori and health
Mrs Marcia Te Au-Thompson (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) has worked to promote social inclusion, health and Te Ao Māori in her community for 30 years.
Mrs Te Au-Thompson supports seniors/kaumātua in the Invercargill area through the Nga Kete Matauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust (NKMP). She has been involved with the kaumātua group at Te Tomairangi Marae in Murihuku for 14 years, which has included sharing waiata, establishing a ukulele group, helping with social media particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep the community connected. She was Ngāi Tahu’s representative on the Southern District Health Board in the early 1990s and became Iwi Cultural Advisor for Southland Hospital. She was instrumental in creating Te Whare Whānau family room and accommodation at Southland Hospital for whānau of critically ill patients from outside Invercargill. She has led key changes to health care practices, incorporating tikanga and Hauora. Mrs Te Au-Thompson has been a celebrant for weddings, tangihanga and funerals on a voluntary basis and a Justice of the Peace for more than 25 years.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
TUUTA, Mrs Raana Amelia Thelma
For services to Māori and the community
Mrs Raana Tuuta has contributed to the Chatham Islands community for more than 60 years.
Mrs Tuuta is a highly respected kuia, elder, Kai Karanga of the Chatham Islands community, dedicating a lifetime to providing tikanga Māori (blessings) at christenings, weddings, birthdays, tangi, events and the opening of numerous establishments. She has taught kapa haka at Te One Primary School, has been a Councillor for Chatham Islands County Council and Board member of the Department of Conservation Chatham Islands Committee. She has been a committee member of the Chatham Islands Federated Farmers Association, holding various positions including Chairperson. She has been a member of the Chatham Islands Ladies Hospital Committee since 1985, advocating for improved healthcare and hospital facilities. She has led the Chatham Islands ‘Golden Oldies’ for 40 years, organising monthly social events, planning trips for the senior citizen members to travel off island, and continuously fundraising for the group. She is renowned locally for her hard work, successfully running a sheep farm to the present day, gaining recognition and awards for her wool on a national level. Mrs Tuuta has variously worked at Te One Primary School, Waitangi General Store, and 21 years at the Inia Wiremu Tuuta Memorial Airport, where she works full-time at age 85 for the Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
UPOKO, Mr Putiani
For services to the Pacific community
Mr Putiani Upoko has contributed to Pacific Island community in South Auckland for more than 30 years.
Mr Upoko has been the Session Clerk of Otara Pacific Islands Presbyterian Church since 1980, and held several roles, including Cook Island Secretary and Choir Master. As an Elder and Church Leader, he has been instrumental in instigating positive change and maintaining unity within the church’s Samoan, Niue and Cook Island groups. He has worked to ensure that all beliefs and core values of each ethnic group remain represented, particularly during times of uncertainty. He encouraged Pacific Island communities to support one another during the COVID-19 pandemic, acting as the Cook Island representative for the community through his engagement with government officials during lockdowns. He was appointed as a Pacific Island representative in a Consumer Representation Study for one year, established to nominate and identify potential consumer representatives to various Ministerial and Statutory Boards. This initial study resulted in stakeholder engagement becoming a significant contributor in government decision making. He has tutored and supported students in South Auckland schools in preparation for the annual ASB Polyfest, the largest Polynesian festival in the world. Mr Upoko has been involved with Tangaroa College for many years as a tutor of Imene Tuki, a traditional screaming hymn of the Cook Islands.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
VAN REENEN, Mrs Robyn Ann
For services to the arts
Mrs Robyn van Reenen has been prominent in the Otago art community since 1982.
Mrs van Reenen is known for her involvement in coordinating and managing the Wanaka Autumn Art School since 1992. The school, established in 1990, is held annually at the Mt Aspiring College campus and offers some 16 courses in visual, performing, craft and writing arts. It has attracted upwards of 200 students each year, with notable artists from throughout New Zealand and Australia attending to teach. Her other arts involvement has included serving as the Secretary of the Wanaka Arts Society between 1982 and 1985 and being a founding member of the Wanaka Patchwork Club from 1982. She was Chair of the Upper Clutha Community Arts Council between 1997 and 2022, instrumental in awarding financial assistance for arts projects. She is a member of COOTS (Central Otago Outside the Square), a group of textile artists exhibiting biennially and promoting textiles in the art world. She has taught courses on quilting and book binding. She served on the National Association of New Zealand Quilters’ Committee between 1996 and 1998 and the National Quilt Symposium Committee between 1997 and 1999. Mrs van Reenen was a committee member of the Queenstown Lakes Creative Communities Grants between 2018 and 2021.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
VINCENT, Mrs Jillian Helen
For services to pipe bands
Mrs Jillian Vincent has been involved with the pipe band community since 1958.
Mrs Vincent has been a Marching and Drum Major’s judge since 1993 and served as an Assistant Contest Supervisor between 1995 and 1999. She has been Secretary of the Pipe Band’s Foundation of New Zealand between 2009 and 2020. She has held the positions of Contest Supervisor and Contest Group Leader between 2000 and 2010, and has been a member of the Non-Music Judges’ Review Committee, tasked with the preparation and production of the Non-Music Judges’ Guide. Since 2010 she has been the Convenor of the Non-Music Judges’ Selection Committee and the New Zealand Championships Closing Ceremony Organiser. Mrs Vincent has received life membership with the Canterbury Centre of the Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Association and with the Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Association.
The Queen’s Service Medal:
WYATT, Mrs Patricia Mavis (Pat)
For services to netball
Mrs Pat Wyatt has been contributing to netball in her community of Rotorua for more than 50 years.
Mrs Wyatt has been administrating netball in Rotorua since 1966, having organised the annual Sport Bay of Plenty Primary Schools Field Day. She is a qualified New Zealand Umpire and has conducted Netball theory classes to train new umpires in the region. She has been the draw steward for several tournaments including the Kurangaituku Tournament, the end of season celebration for netball teams from across New Zealand, with more than 350 teams in attendance. She computerised the Rotorua netball draws and has held the position of Treasurer for both Rotorua Netball and Netball Rotorua Umpires. She has assisted at national championships, New Zealand Age-group and New Zealand Secondary-School tournaments, and is a qualified Bench Official officiating at local, national and international netball. She has been a member of the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic franchise for 20 years and involved with the Silver Ferns. Mrs Wyatt was awarded with life membership of Netball Rotorua in 2003, Netball Rotorua Service Award in 2003 and Netball New Zealand Service Award in 2010.