ALDERSLADE, Mr Douglas Seymour (Doug)
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to the racing industry.
Mr Doug Alderslade has made an enduring contribution to the racing industry in Auckland and New Zealand.
Mr Alderslade has been a member of the Auckland Racing Club (ARC) since 1983 and was elected to the Board in 2003. When he became Chair of ARC in 2017, he played a pivotal role in the successful amalgamation of ARC in Ellerslie and Counties Racing Club in Pukekohe into Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) in 2021. Under his leadership, the Club has delivered transformative industry outcomes and substantial upgrades to racing infrastructure, including the construction of the state-of-the-art StrathAyr track at Ellerslie, culminating in the first Champions Day race meeting in March 2025. This development has ensured the sustainability of Auckland racing and long-term industry growth. As a committed racehorse owner and breeder, he has actively fostered international partnerships for the benefit of the Auckland industry, including maintaining long-standing connections with the Victoria Racing Club, the Japan Racing Association and the Hong Kong Jockey Club. He remains Chair of the ATR. In addition to his service to racing, Mr Alderslade has had a distinguished legal career as a partner at Chapman Tripp for 35 years, specialising in commercial dispute resolution and employment law.
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ASHFORD, Mr Richard Walter
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to business, particularly the textile craft industry.
Mr Richard Ashford is a leader in New Zealand’s textile industry supporting handicrafts, product design and sustainable manufacturing in New Zealand for more than 55 years.
Mr Ashford is an advocate for promoting traditional textile practices. He has been managing director and lead designer at Ashford Handicrafts since 1970. He has overseen the company’s growth from a small family business, to exporting textile craft equipment and New Zealand wool to over 40 countries. He is a world-renowned designer of textile equipment, producing more than 900,000 spinning wheels and weaving looms manufactured in New Zealand and exported internationally. He has led textile design innovations that promote inclusivity within the sector, creating equipment that enables greater access to the craft for hobbyists with disabilities. He and his wife co-founded the Ashford Textile Award in 2018, awarding a $5,000 grant to support textile artists and community projects worldwide. Through Ashford Handicrafts, he produces the digital textile magazine ‘The Wheel’, and has published six books on spinning, weaving, felting and carding, which have sold more than 110,000 copies. Mr Ashford supports many local organisations and was a director of the Ashburton Permanent Building Society from 1988 until its merger with Heartland Building Society in 2011.
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AUSTIN, Associate Professor Nicola Cecile
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to children's health.
Associate Professor Nicola Austin is a leading paediatrician and clinical neonatologist who has substantially improved neonatal services, particularly in Christchurch.
Associate Professor Austin was Clinical Director of the Neonatal Unit in Christchurch Hospital, leading the Unit’s relocation to the Christchurch Women’s Hospital in 2005. She was Clinical Director of Christchurch Women’s Hospital for 20 years. She was Canterbury District Health Board’s Chief of Child Health from 2007 to 2013, providing oversight of the neonatal service, general paediatrics, paediatric surgery and paediatric subspecialties. She has been Chair of the New Zealand Child and Youth Clinical Networks (NZCYCN) since 2022, guiding national standards of care since 2010. She was Chair of the NZCYCN Newborn Clinical Network from 2013 to 2020, and committee member until 2022. She was President of the Paediatric Society of New Zealand from 2019 to 2021, overseeing a renewed strategy based on equity and Te Tiriti. She has been instrumental to the establishment and undertaking of clinical research in the Christchurch Women’s neonatal intensive care unit. Since 2011 she has been Clinical Associate Professor in Paediatrics at the University of Otago Christchurch School of Medicine, and has published almost 100 peer-reviewed articles and co-supervised doctoral candidates. Associate Professor Austin was a lead investigator for a preterm infants study, tracking the children’s development until 17 years of age.
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BAKER, Mrs Ronelle Kiterangi
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to children and people living with disabilities.
Mrs Ronelle Baker (Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Apakua, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāpuhi, Ngātiwai) has contributed significantly to leadership and governance across the disability, health and child advocacy sectors, informed by her lived experience with muscular dystrophy.
Mrs Baker is a nationally recognised advocate for the wellbeing of people living with disabilities, particularly children. She has served in several governance roles, including as Chief Executive of the Muscular Dystrophy Association of New Zealand, as a member of the Auckland Council Disability Advisory Group, and as Trustee of Te Roopu Waiora Trust. She was a Commissioner and Board member for Mana Mokopuna - Children and Young People’s Commission from 2023 to 2025, helping establish the Commission and implement legislation changes. She worked closely with the Chief Children’s Commissioner to ensure the Commission had a greater impact for mokopuna whaikaha, young people living with disabilities. She was Chair of Spectrum Care from 2022 to 2024, where her advocacy for disabled people and their whānau shaped the organisation’s governance decisions to better reflect the people they served. She has served in the Child Women and Family Services division of Waitematā District Health Board, the Community Empowerment Unit at Auckland Council, and at Statistics New Zealand Tatauranga Aotearoa. Mrs Baker is currently Kaihautū Chief Advisor Māori for Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People and serves on the Board for Community Law Marlborough.
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BATES, Miss Suzannah Wilson (Suzie)
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to cricket and basketball.
Miss Suzie Bates (Ngāi Tahu) debuted for the White Ferns in 2006 and is regarded as one of the greatest players in the team’s history, captaining the team from 2011 to 2018.
Miss Bates is New Zealand’s leading women’s run-scorer in ODIs with 5,964 runs and T20Is with 4,717 runs, currently the most T20I runs by any woman. She has achieved 13 ODI centuries and one WT20I century. She was the first player to reach 1,000 T20 World Cup runs in 2023 and became the most-capped woman in international cricket during 2024/2025, reaching 350 international appearances and counting. She has received numerous domestic and international awards, including ICC Women’s ODI and T20I Cricketer of the Year in 2013 and 2016, Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in 2015, and Player of the Tournament at the 2013 Women’s Cricket World Cup. She also represented New Zealand in basketball at the Beijing 2008 Olympics with the Tall Ferns. She has played with the Christchurch Sirens in the Women’s National Basketball League and was Assistant Coach of the Otago Nuggets in 2021. She has been a Sport New Zealand ‘Balance is Better’ Champion since 2023, promoting positive youth sport environments. Miss Bates supports leadership initiatives for teenage girls through cricket in Otago and has participated in the New Zealand Olympic Committee Schools Outreach Ambassador Programme since 2008.
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BEATSON, Dr Ronald Alan (Ron)
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to horticulture.
Dr Ron Beatson has advanced the research and development and breeding of hops in New Zealand.
Dr Beatson has worked as a Plant and Food Research scientist for more than 50 years, producing more than 50 academic journal articles, books, and plant patents. He has led the breeding and genetics of hops in New Zealand for 38 years and is responsible for release of 17 specialty New Zealand hops cultivars, which are in high demand nationally and internationally. The majority of the commercial hop industry in New Zealand utilises hop varieties he developed, and the success of these hop varieties has driven significant expansion of the New Zealand hop industry. He has been involved in breeding and development of other key horticultural crops including kiwifruit, apricots, and berry fruits. He was part of the team awarded the Prime Minister’s Science Prize for their response to the Psa kiwifruit vine canker. He has worked closely with brewers and growers to trial new hop varieties, contributing to their commercial success. In 1999 he was made a Knight of the Order of the Hop by the International Hop Growers Convention. In 2022 Dr Beatson became a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute for Agricultural and Horticultural Science, and is an Associate of Honour of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture.
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DAVIES, Mr Evan Welch
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to business and governance.
Mr Evan Davies has contributed to multiple businesses, government and not-for-profit organisations locally and internationally.
Mr Davies was the inaugural Chief Executive of SkyCity Entertainment Group from 1996 to 2007 and oversaw the establishment of one of New Zealand’s most iconic structures, Auckland’s Sky Tower. He was responsible for conceiving, licensing, the building, opening and operations of SkyCity in Auckland. He was recognised by the Deloitte Top 200 awards as the 2000 Chief Executive of the Year and led SkyCity to win Company of the Year in 2001. He has been a Trustee with the Melanesian Mission Trust Board since 1998 and a Trustee with the Anglican Trust for Women and Children since 2005. He has been a Director of the Auckland City Mission since 2017 and has chaired the Finance Committee of the Auckland Arts Festival since 2021. He has held several central and local government appointments, including Chair of the Health Capital Investment Committee, Chair of the Hospital Redevelopment Partnership Group Canterbury, Deputy Chair of the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and Board Member of Waterfront Auckland. He is Chair of the Tāmaki Regeneration Company. Mr Davies is currently the Group CEO of Todd Corporation, one of New Zealand’s largest family-owned businesses.
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DAVY, Ms Margaret Ruth (Ruth)
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to nursing and women's health.
Ms Ruth Davy is a leading figure in women’s heath, nursing and public health leadership, who has worked to reduce inequity and remove barriers to healthcare for women.
As CEO and later Chairperson, Ms Davy led the foundation of the independent Well Women’s Nursing Service in 1989, now the Well Women and Family Trust (WWFT), established in response to the Cartwright Inquiry. She led the establishment of New Zealand’s first mobile van service for women’s health, providing free health checks and education in hard-to-reach communities. She worked with Work and Income, Women’s Refuge and community leaders to ensure these services met the needs of high-priority women. Through WWFT, 2,400 women receive health checks annually, including cervical and breast screening, sexual healthcare and infection testing. She became the first independent nurse smear taker, and led WWFT to become an NZQA-approved cervical smear taker training organisation. She secured critical contracts with regional health authorities and the Ministry of Health for dedicated programmes to improve screening for Māori, Pacific and Asian women who missed regular care. She introduced frameworks for nurse training in cultural competency, ensuring health services better met the needs of Māori and Pacific women. Ms Davy helped found two Asian health organisations and developed an initiative empowering Māori and Pacific women to be community health promoters.
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EVERITT, Ms Karleen Mae
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to Māori and business.
Ms Karleen Everitt (Te Aupōuri, Ngāpuhi, Te Iwi Morehu) is a business leader focused on improving societal and economic outcomes for Māori.
In 2006, Ms Everitt established Manaaki Solutions, dedicated to supporting the development of the Māori economy and leadership. She was the first Māori and first woman to become Chair of Northland’s Regional Economic Development Agency (Northland Inc) from 2017 to 2018, after four years as Director. As General Manager of Te Putea Whakatupu Trust, she developed several programmes focused on education, leadership development and research for Māori including Te Mahe Matauranga, the National Māori Science Competition, and Hei Rātā Whakaruruhau, helping emerging leaders in Māori governance roles. The Trust partnered with Victoria University of Wellington and the Federation of Māori Authorities, where she has worked as a Strategic Advisor. She served as a member of NorthTec Council from 2015 to 2017. As Deputy Chair of the St Stephen’s Queen Victoria (SSQV) Trust Board, she championed the re-opening of SSQV schools. She has served as a Director of Global Women New Zealand since 2021. She was appointed to lead ANZ bank’s Te Ao Māori Strategy in 2021. Ms Everitt won the Dame Mira Szászy Alumni Award at the 2024 University of Auckland Aotearoa Māori Business Leaders Awards.
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GRANTHAM, Inspector Ross
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to the New Zealand Police.
Inspector Ross Grantham joined the New Zealand Police in 1979, holding various roles in Wellington and Manawatu, most recently as Manawatu Area Commander from 2023 until retiring in 2026.
Inspector Grantham‘s rise through the ranks saw him involved with a range of high-profile investigations and operations, recognising and utilising advances in forensic sciences, DNA identification and immunohistochemistry. He later saw opportunities for Police interviewing and was involved in a review, developing from this a program of investigative interviewing for children and adults using internal and external academic experts. He ensured the sharing of good practice and learning, regularly tutoring at the Royal New Zealand Police College and other investigation forums nationally and internationally. He became a National Manager Interviewing in 2007 and led changes within the organisation regarding interviewing practice, as well as supporting investigations nationally as National Crime Manager. He represented New Zealand Police overseas during this period, seconded to South Australia Police and delivering homicide investigation courses. He drove a new approach for interviewing family harm victims by handheld video in 2015, which is now a mainstay approach for officers across New Zealand. He contributed to a current framework for standards expected of new constables, providing mentorship for their careers. Inspector Grantham was President of the Friends of the Police Museum during a significant museum overall.
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HIGGINS, Dr Te Ripowai Pauline, QSM
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to education and Māori.
Dr Te Ripowai Higgins (Ngāi Tūhoe) has worked towards the revitalisation of te reo Māori and the advancement of indigenous education for more than 43 years.
In 1982 Dr Higgins became a foundation board member for Te Ataarangi, a community-led Māori language revitalisation movement which helped shape the methodology of Māori language learning. She built relationships with First Nations and Indigenous communities globally, sharing the Te Ataarangi approach to assist with their own language revitalisation. She remained with Te Ataarangi for 42 years. She held several leadership positions at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Māori Studies, including Senior Lecturer and Head of School. She was ruahine (female leader) of Te Herenga Waka marae. She helped build pathways for community educators to transition into postgraduate study. She was a long-term member of the Law Commission’s Māori Liaison Committee, and provided tikanga training to many members of the judiciary. She was a foundation Board member of Te Ipukarea the National Māori Language Institute. She served on the Board of Te Māngai Pāho for three consecutive terms, and was instrumental in the establishment of Te Upoko o te Ika, New Zealand’s first Māori radio station. Dr Higgins was kuia and cultural advisor to former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy.
HONOURS
- Queen’s Service Medal for Community Service, New Year 1988
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HUGHEY, Ms Jennifer Margaret (Jenny)
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to community law and governance.
Ms Jenny Hughey has supported community law around New Zealand in several governance leadership roles since 2006.
Ms Hughey served as national Co-Chair of Community Law Centres Aotearoa (CLCA) from 2018 to 2026, having been a national board member since 2011. Having joined during a period of financial constraint, she was key in developing a new funding basis, which was successfully adopted. Her subsequent leadership at CLCA has shaped the national strategy for community legal services and strengthened coordination amongst the 24 community law centres across New Zealand, to ensure free legal assistance remains available to those who need it most. Under her guidance, CLCA has built enduring partnerships with a range of groups across government, the legal profession, and the community, which has helped the organisation to deliver services that are culturally responsive and community driven. She was a board member of Marlborough Community Law and is currently Co-Chair of Community Law Canterbury, having joined the board in 2015. Her contributions have strengthened the governance of community law and advanced equitable access to justice nationally. In addition to her service to community law, Ms Hughey has provided her leadership and governance experience to local government, where she was elected to Canterbury Regional Council and was the elected Chairperson from 2019 to 2022.
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JANES, Mr Trevor David
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to business and public sector governance.
Mr Trevor Janes completed his final term as Chair of the NZX Regulation Company (RegCo) in 2025, the independent regulatory arm of NZX, having been the founding Chair in 2020.
With RegCo, Mr Janes supported New Zealand’s capital markets, and beyond this has been one of New Zealand’s most senior public company directors. He has served in a range of public governance roles since the 1990s, as Chair, Deputy Chair or director of the Public Trust, KiwiRail, ACC, Mighty River Power, Watercare, Housing New Zealand, and Auckland District Health Board. As a Board member of the ACC Investment Committee from 1999 to 2002 and as a specialist member of the Investment Committee from 2003 to 2010, he played a major role in the organisation’s reputation as a market leader in the investment of nearly $50 billion in public funds. He has received several fellowships from professional bodies, including the Institute of Financial Professionals, and was a Chartered Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Directors until 2022. He is a Fellow and previous Chair of the New Zealand Society of Investment Analysis. Mr Janes chaired the Tokelau Islands Investment Fund on an unremunerated basis from 2016 to 2020.
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JANSEN, Mrs Adrienne Anne
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to writing and publishing.
Mrs Adrienne Jansen is an award-winning writer, publisher and community advocate who has contributed to the arts and marginalised communities for 45 years.
In 1979, Mrs Jansen co-founded the Porirua Language Project, the first of her many initiatives with English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). She founded and coordinated New Zealand’s first full-time creative writing course at Whitireia Polytechnic in 1993, which ran for 25 years before moving online. Under her leadership, the programme was designed to be accessible to all, with many graduates becoming award-winning authors. She actively supports the Whitireia Publishing Programme. She has written or edited more than 20 books across a range of genres, has written for major exhibitions at Te Papa Tongarewa, and her work has featured in publications from the ‘School Journal’ to ‘Best New Zealand Poems’. She has initiated and run many workshops for groups including new migrants. In 2021 she worked with the Wellington City Mission, running weekly classes with people experiencing homelessness, and included their work in an anthology of poems on housing. Mrs Jansen co-founded the publishing houses Escalator Press and Landing Press, promoting both novice and established writers, and for the last ten years has led Landing Press, which is committed to the principles of diversity and inclusiveness.
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JOHNSON, Mr Samuel Robert (Sam)
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to the community and youth.
Mr Sam Johnson is a recognised civic entrepreneur and an advocate for the role of volunteers and young people in society.
Mobilising more than 11,000 university students in response to the Christchurch Earthquakes, Mr Johnson founded the Student Volunteer Army. He grew the organisation into a national volunteering centre that operates in 258 secondary schools, six universities, in Tasmania and South Australia, and in partnership with IHC to recognise volunteers with intellectual disabilities. As Chief Executive, he led more than 20 domestic disaster response efforts including the significant mobilisation of volunteers nationwide for the COVID-19 pandemic and the Nelson flood response, where 300 volunteers supported 110 households. He is respected globally for his approach to community mobilisations. He has worked alongside the United Nations Office for Disasters to mobilise global youth support for the 2015 Sendai Framework, embedding youth participation in global risk governance. He has served on a Christchurch City Council Community Board, with the Plunket Foundation, Ministry of Awesome, the International Association for Volunteer Effort, and the Pacific Development and Conservation Trust. He was a founding trustee of The King’s Trust Aotearoa New Zealand, contributing to the development of its strategy to support young people to create social enterprises, and of Paererewā, the 1,000 Year Bench Project. Mr Johnson remains Chair of Student Volunteer Army.
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JOHNSTON, Dr Michael Brian
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to education.
Dr Michael Johnston is a cognitive psychologist who has contributed substantially to educational assessment, curriculum design, and education reform nationally.
In 2024 Dr Johnston chaired the Ministerial Advisory Group to redevelop a knowledge-rich curriculum for English and mathematics. He is a member of the Curriculum Coherence Group, advising on the development of curricula across all school subjects. From 2005 to 2011 he worked with the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA) to develop the NCEA grade score marking system that improved fairness and reliability in student assessment, which remains in use today. He was Senior Statistician at NZQA, and is a member of the NZQA technical advisory group on assessment for NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship. He is a Senior Fellow at The New Zealand Initiative, where he leads education policy and advocacy, and works with educators and officials to implement education research in the classroom. He was Associate Dean of the Faculty of Education at Victoria University, where he led teacher education and advanced scholarly discourse on assessment and literacy. He co-authored a paper on the neuroscience of memory and learning in the AI age, which has influenced educational thinking internationally. Dr Johnston co-hosts the ‘Free Kiwis!’ podcast, and is a frequent contributor in news media.
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KIRIKIRI, Mr Rauru
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to Māori, science and conservation.
Mr Rauru Kirikiri (Te Whānau ā Apanui) has made significant contributions as a mediator between scientists and iwi in several areas, bridging the gap between Te Ao Māori and western science.
With a background in diplomatic postings, Mr Kirikiri was a senior manager and cultural advisor with Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research (MWLR) from the early 1990s until 2006, helping researchers connect and partner with iwi on conservation projects, particularly Ngāi Tahu and Tūhoe. He assisted New Zealand and Australian research teams in the early 1990s with negotiations to introduce the calcivirus as a biocontrol agent for rabbit populations. He was on the Board of the Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, a Centre of Research Excellence, from 2002 to 2015. He has been a cultural intermediary between the New Zealand Food Safety Science and Research Centre (NZFSSRC) and East Coast iwi since 2016. His mediation has been essential to the NZFSSRC’s relationship with iwi and the initiation of science projects locally, including ensuring safe consumption of tuna from Whakakī Lake and safe harvesting of wild food in Uawa/Tolaga Bay. He was a Trustee of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature New Zealand from 2015 to 2019 and a member of the New Zealand Conservation Authority from 2014 to 2020. Mr Kirikiri is a Companion of the Royal Society of New Zealand.
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KIRTON, Mr Earle Weston
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to rugby.
Mr Earle Kirton has been devoted to 1st class rugby on and off the field, as a player, selector, coach, administrator, and mentor for more than 60 years.
Mr Kirton began his rugby career with the Upper Hutt Club and St Pats Silverstream, before playing for Otago University, and New Zealand Universities between 1960 to 1970. He was only the second player to play 100 games for Otago in his time. He played 49 games for the All Blacks, including 13 tests. He played and coached internationally with the London Harlequins, Middlesex, and the British Barbarians. He coached the Wellington Lions from 1986 to 1987, leading his side to an unbeaten NPC season in 1986, and losing only one game in 1987. He was instrumental in the establishment of the New Zealand Divisional Team, which selects teams from the second and third division to play internationally, aiming to ensure players were not disadvantaged due to location and could equally succeed when provided with the opportunity. He was a coach and selector for various New Zealand Rugby teams between 1988 and 1995. From 1992 to 1995 Mr Kirton was the All Blacks assistant and back coach with Laurie Mains, with their All Blacks making the Rugby World Cup final in 1995.
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LEFORT, Dr Yvonne Marie
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to Breastfeeding Medicine.
Dr Yvonne LeFort has been a general practitioner for more than 35 years, and has pioneered and developed the practice of Breastfeeding Medicine in New Zealand.
Dr LeFort is Medical Director of Milford Breastfeeding Clinic in Auckland. She is internationally recognised as an authority in Breastfeeding Medicine and in the diagnosis and management of infant tongue-tie. She co-founded the Breastfeeding Medicine Association of Aotearoa to promote evidence-based breastfeeding medical practice and co-founded the Breastfeeding Medicine Association of Aotearoa. She is a Fellow of and served as Board member to global organisation the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM). She is the lead author of the Academy’s Position Statement on tongue-tie, which has influenced clinical practice internationally, as well as co-authoring several other ABM publications. She is a Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) and the Canadian College of Family Physicians. She has held lectures and presentations extensively on breastfeeding education nationally and internationally. She provides mentorship for healthcare professionals and support for breastfeeding families at monthly community centre drop-in sessions. She has developed policy for Health Pathways on breastfeeding topics. Dr LeFort has been a curriculum reviewer for the RNZCGP on Paediatrics, is a professional advisor to La Leche League New Zealand and is a Board Member of the New Zealand Breastfeeding Alliance.
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LOWE, Mr Russell George
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to horticulture and the kiwifruit industry.
Mr Russell Lowe spent more than 51 years working with the Department of Scientific Industrial Research and Crown Research Institutes, where he pioneered significant innovations in the kiwifruit industry.
Mr Lowe was integral to the selection of the Hort16A vine and its polleniser cultivars, which would create the first Zespri Gold kiwifruit. Zespri Gold was launched in overseas markets in 2000 and saw more than $3 billion in export earnings during its lifetime, establishing New Zealand as a world-leader in the kiwifruit industry. He led the creation of the Zesy002 cultivar, known as Zespri SunGold, after commercial crops of Hort16A were wiped out by a bacterial canker in 2010. He was involved in the selection of rootstocks Kaimai and Bounty 71, which have aided the success of SunGold by allowing it to grow in a wider range of places. Zespri SunGold now accounts for 60 percent of all kiwifruit orchards in New Zealand, with 127.6 million trays exported in 2025, earning $2.2 billion annually. He led the development of Zes008, which was approved for commercial release in 2019 as the Zespri RubyRed. More than two out of every three kiwifruit exported in New Zealand come from Mr Lowe’s cultivars, and he has received varied industry recognition from the Hayward Medal in 2012 to lifetime achievement and innovation awards.
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MABER, Mr Geoffrey John
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to agribusiness.
Mr Geoffrey Maber has contributed to the agribusiness sector for more than 50 years, and is owner, CEO and Chair of Power Farming Group (PFG).
Under Mr Maber’s leadership, PFG has expanded from a small family business to become the largest privately-owned tractor and farm machinery business in the Southern Hemisphere. PFG generates $600 million annually, and employs 500 people in New Zealand, Australia and North America. He remains heavily involved with day-to-day operations of the business for the 20 dealerships nationally. Power Farming led the expansion of PFG internationally in 2017, securing the rights to German tractor brand Deutz Fahr, sold in the United States of America. PFG has become the largest privately-owned and independent agriculture equipment distributor in Australia. He has supported the Waikato region through philanthropic contributions, including the funding of the Alumni Sports Pavilion at Southwell School. In 2016 he and his family received the Matamata-Piako District Council Award for Contribution to the Community. Mr Maber erected the now iconic 6.5 metre Mega Cow sculpture in Morrinsville, as a tribute to the region’s legacy as a leading dairy producer.
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MACDONALD, Mr Garry John
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to wastewater engineering.
Mr Garry Macdonald is recognised as one of the most influential experts in wastewater engineering in New Zealand.
Mr Macdonald has helped shape the country’s public health infrastructure since becoming a water professional in 1976. He has led many major wastewater projects that have improved the environment for New Zealand’s fastest growing urban centres, most notably the major upgrade to the Māngere Wastewater Treatment Plant. This project won the Arthur Mead Environmental Award in 2003 and Engineering New Zealand’s (ENZ) Supreme Award for New Zealand Engineering Excellence in 2005. He has provided high-profile, volunteer governance and leadership for national industry organisations, including Water New Zealand, ENZ and Oxfam New Zealand. He was the first non-North American to serve on the Water Environment Federation (WEF) Board of Trustees, playing a critical role in driving education and standards for the global water industry. He has authored and presented more than 60 technical papers at conferences worldwide. He is a Distinguished Fellow of ENZ, won Water New Zealand’s Association Medal in 2018 and Presentation of the Year in 2024, and WEF’s Volunteer Service Recognition Award in 2024. Mr Macdonald is a member of the National Wastewater Standards Technical Review Group, providing expert technical input to Water Services Authority-Taumata Arowai.
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MANTELL, Dr Colin David
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to health education, obstetrics and gynaecology.
Dr Colin Mantell (Ngāi Tahu) is a pioneering leader in Māori Health, obstetrics and gynaecology.
Dr Mantell has published widely and became internationally recognised for his research in foetal physiology and neonatal medicine. He was instrumental in founding and chairing the Māori and Pacific Admission Scheme at the University of Auckland from 1977 to 2005, and later Vision 20:20, an initiative aimed at ensuring that 10 percent of New Zealand’s health professionals were Māori or Pacific by 2020. Vision 20:20 has supported an increase of Māori and Pacific health professionals to a combined 13.8 percent by 2024. As Professor of Māori Health at University of Auckland, he helped establish Hikitia Te Ora – Certificate in Health Sciences, a foundation year to support Māori and Pacific students entering Health sciences, and shaped the curriculum to create an environment where Māori and Pacific could thrive in the Health workforce. Over 60 years, he has directly contributed to a significant increase in Māori and Pacific doctors, and helped reduce health inequities by embedding cultural safety, support systems, and indigenous-led pathways into medical education. As a founding Board member of Turuki Health Care since 2000, Dr Mantell’s leadership has been key in shaping healthcare delivery centred in Te Ao Māori, with a strong focus on whānau-centred care.
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NOLAN, Mrs Susan Louise (Sue)
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to drug testing and forensic toxicology.
Mrs Sue Nolan is a leading expert on forensic toxicology and drug testing, where she has contributed to standards, policy and practice for more than 51 years.
Mrs Nolan joined the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science in 1974, where she shaped New Zealand’s capabilities in forensic and sports drug testing. She established New Zealand’s first horse dope testing facility in 1994, and New Zealand’s first sports drug testing facility for the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games. She is a founding member of the International Forum for Drug and Alcohol Testing, and has influenced global drug and alcohol testing policy. She is a member of Australian/New Zealand Standards technical committees, where she produced key standards for urine and oral drug testing used internationally in workplace and sports settings. She has advised the World Anti-Doping Agency and contributed to the development of international drug testing standards. She oversaw the drug testing laboratories for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympic Games. She regularly conducts NZQA certification programmes for specimen collection and on-site drug screening. Mrs Nolan collaborates with Medical Review Officers and providers of substance abuse rehabilitation programmes to ensure compliant testing and management protocols.
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O'DONNELL, Mr Scott
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to business.
Mr Scott O’Donnell is a businessman and philanthropist based in Invercargill, who has supported the city’s development for more than 30 years.
Mr O’Donnell is director of HW Richardson Group (HWR). From 2006 to 2015 he was HWR’s Managing Director, leading its expansion into petroleum, rural transport and waste sectors. He is currently supporting HWR’s development of green hydrogen, providing an alternative fuel for heavy vehicles. He helped HWR pioneer the first hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel truck in New Zealand, contributing to the decarbonisation of heavy vehicle transport. He developed the HWR Group’s property portfolio, and was appointed CEO in 2016. As Chair of Invercargill Central, he led a joint venture between HWR and Invercargill City Council on a $180 million redevelopment of the city centre. He has supported the development of tourist attractions in Invercargill, including the Classic Motorcycle Mecca, Toot Sweets, Bill Richardson Transport World and The Lodges at Transport World. He is Chairman of Blue Sky Pastures Limited. He has served on the Board of MotorSport New Zealand since 2016, and is a promoter of Invercargill’s George Begg Motorsport Festival. Mr O’Donnell was involved in the development of Hawthorndale Care Village, a dementia and elderly care facility.
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PARKER, Mr Stephen John
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to governance and the community.
Mr Stephen Parker has been involved with non-profit community organisation governance for more than 20 years, particularly in West Auckland.
Mr Parker joined the Visionwest Community Trust (then The Friendship Centre Trust Board) in 2004, one of New Zealand’s largest community, social and healthcare organisations that reaches 11,000 households nationwide. He has held several governance roles with Visionwest, including Trustee, Treasurer, Deputy Chair and Chair. He was instrumental in increasing the Trust’s annual revenue from $2.9 million to $115 million. He was involved with the Community Waitākere Charitable Trust Board as a Trustee for more than 14 years and Treasurer for 11 years. He joined the grant panel of the Baptist Foundation in 2015, becoming Grants Convenor and Director in 2017. He facilitates the grant distribution process, which has seen $1.2 million granted to 135 projects in the wider Auckland and Northland regions. He was appointed Treasurer of the Dayspring Trust Board in 2018, where he supports women who experience postnatal depression or other mental health issues. He was Chair of Howick Baptist Health (HBH) from 2018 to 2024. Mr Parker expanded HBH’s services that support older people, including low-cost social housing, and a Virtual Village aimed at reducing isolation and loneliness.
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RIDDELL, Mr Baye Michael
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to Māori clay art.
Mr Baye Riddell (Ngāti Porou) is a preeminent contemporary clay artist within Māori arts and the wider New Zealand ceramic community.
Mr Riddell’s artwork focuses on a contemporary expression in clay based on traditional Māori art forms and cultural practice. Beginning his career in 1974, during a ceramic environment mainly dominated by European and Asian influences, his work established a unique New Zealand ceramic identity and added to world ceramic history. He co-founded the national Māori clay artists collective Ngā Kaihanga Uku in 1987, which he continues to lead as kaumātua. He was principal author of ‘Ngā Kaihanga Uku: Māori Clay Artists’ (2023), documenting the development of Uku clay art in New Zealand and receiving the Art Association of Australia and New Zealand Prize for Best Writing by an Aotearoa Māori or Pasifika author. He has exhibited nationally and internationally, including in China, South Korea, the United States, and Canada. His work is held in major collections nationally and overseas. He mentors new artists and has taught Māori clay art at marae, in workshops and tertiary institutions nationally, assisting in curriculum development for arts programmes. He served on the Central Region Arts Council and was Arts Coordinator for Waiapu Arts Council. Mr Riddell established the Manu Waiata Original Song writing competition which continues to run within Ngāti Porou.
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SHORTLAND, Mrs Rahera, MNZM
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to Māori language education.
Mrs Rahera Shortland (Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Tawake, Ngāti Hao) was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2016 for her services to Māori, education and television, having been involved with te reo Māori revitalisation over five decades.
Mrs Shortland helped establish Te Ātaarangi Educational Trust, which has been at the forefront of Māori language revitalisation using unique tools and techniques. She remains involved in leadership as a Manutea, a group of kuia who were involved in the early days of Te Ataarangi who continue to support and advise in various kaupapa within the broader organisation. She has supported reo Māori communities in Australia and shared the Te Ataarangi methodology with an indigenous group in Hawai’i working on language revitalisation. Mrs Shortland’s continued involvement in teaching most recently saw her facilitate a 12-month Kura Kaiwhakaako, overseeing the graduation of 16 kaiako in June 2025.
HONOURS
- Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, Queen’s Birthday 2016
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SMAILL, Ms Ann Robyn
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to speech-language therapy.
Ms Ann Smaill has been involved with speech-language therapy for almost 50 years, with more than 30 years dedicated to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
Ms Smaill joined TalkLink Trust in 1992, becoming the first speech-language therapist nationally to focus specifically on combining technology and communication, building the systems, workforce and funding structures to make AAC devices available to New Zealanders who needed them. She established the TalkLink Christchurch and Wellington offices in 1999 and 2000 and as Chief Executive from 2007 to 2022, guided TalkLink’s growth from an income of $250,000 to more than $5 million with contracts with ACC, Ministry of Health and Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People. Since stepping down as Chief Executive in 2022, she has led the Tua o te Pae Project, developing synthetic Te Reo Māori voices for AAC devices. She was a founding member of the Assistive Technology Association of New Zealand (ATANZ), establishing a professional body for practitioners, accreditation pathways, mentoring systems, and training workshops. She has contributed to Auckland, Massey, and Canterbury university programmes, ensuring that Speech-Language Therapy and Special Education students graduate with awareness and skills in AAC. She has been recognised within the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC). Ms Smaill launched KiwiChat camps in 2002, which now support more than 500 participants annually in shared AAC experiences.
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SOPER, Mr Barry John
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to journalism.
Mr Barry Soper is a long-serving political journalist and commentator, who reported as part of the Parliamentary Press Gallery for 43 years.
Mr Soper has covered major international events, including the Fijian coups in 1987 and 2000, and Nelson Mandela’s inauguration in 1994. He was the driving influence to have Nelson Mandela as the guest speaker at the Parliamentary Press Gallery 125th Anniversary Dinner, held during President Mandela’s visit to New Zealand. He co-established the Southland Club, which holds an annual function in Parliament to promote the Southland province. He has mentored junior political journalists. He was named Journalist of the Year at the New Zealand Radio Awards on several occasions. In 2023 Mr Soper's lifetime of work was recognised at the New Zealand Radio Awards, where he received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Radio.
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TANDON, Mrs Archna, JP
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to ethnic communities and women.
Mrs Archna Tandon has made significant contributions to ethnic communities and multiculturalism development since 1997, advancing social cohesion, women’s empowerment, migrant resettlement, and intercultural and interfaith understanding, through leadership roles in a range of organisations.
As National President of New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Women Councils from 2016 to 2022, Mrs Tandon developed and led Women’s Wellbeing Framework, an initiative adopted by 24 regional multicultural councils to advance culturally appropriate strategies for empowering multiethnic women. She has provided leadership through the Christchurch Multicultural Council and as Chair of its Women’s Council since 2016, leading major events including the Many Voices - Christchurch Multicultural Festival and International Women’s Day celebrations. She has led initiatives such as Living Between Two Cultures and campaigns addressing domestic violence and child abuse. She co-founded an annual Multicultural Festival in Lincoln in 2004, now the Selwyn CultureFest. Through governance roles with Christchurch Migrant Centre and Christchurch Resettlement Services, she addressed critical service gaps to strengthen migrant communities. She mobilised communities in response to the Christchurch earthquakes, COVID-19 pandemic, and 2019 terror attacks. As founding Chair of Canterbury Indian Women Group Trust since 2016, she has led initiatives including Indian Women’s Expo, annual Selwyn Diwali, and self-defence, yoga, cross-cultural parenting and health programmes. Mrs Tandon chaired Shakti Ethnic Women’s Support Group from 2013 to 2017.
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TAVERNER, Mr Hamish John Logan
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to people with learning disabilities.
Mr Hamish Taverner has spent more than 40 years advocating for and supporting people with learning disabilities in New Zealand and Australia.
Mr Taverner has worked on various projects since the 1990s including research interviews with disabled people, as an evaluator helping assess care homes for disabled people, and delivering Disability Equality Training. He joined People First New Zealand in 1990, holding the roles of Secretary and Chair of the Manawatu area committee, representing on regional committees and the National Executive, and as National Chairperson from 2013 to 2014. As National Chairperson, he served on the Disabled Persons Organisation Coalition, working across government to ensure disabled person’s rights are protected and enhanced. He has held other governance and leadership roles with the Disabled Persons Assembly, IHC, and advisory group roles including for the Ministry of Health, the New Zealand Disability Strategy 2016 to 2026, and on the development of family violence, sexual violence policy and strategy for disabled people. He joined the IHC Rangitikei Association committee in 1996 and was Chair from 2016 to 2020, the first person with an intellectual disability to hold the role. He served on the New Zealand Divisional committee of the Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability. Mr Taverner has had a 40-year involvement with Special Olympics as an athlete, leader and advocate.
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THOM, Mr Murray Neville
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to the arts and philanthropy.
Mr Murray Thom is the owner and Executive Producer of Thom Productions, which he started in 1987, and has supported numerous organisations and individuals though the Thom Charitable Trust established in 1997.
Mr Thom launched the Offering project in April 2019, which featured 24 New Zealand recording artists and painters collaborating on works inspired by gospel hymns. Artists including Dave Dobbyn, Dick Frizzell, Stan Walker, Lisa Reihana, and Hollie Smith offered their talent free of charge, with all proceeds being donated to the Salvation Army. He produced the award-winning ‘The Great New Zealand Cookbook’ (2014), which raised $125,000 for KidsCan. His production ‘The Great New Zealand Songbook’ (2009) remains one of the highest selling New Zealand albums with more than 120,000 sales. His contribution to the New Zealand music industry began in 1983 when he became the youngest ever Managing Director of CBS Records (now Sony Music). He was producer of Dave Dobbyn’s ‘Loyal’ album and ‘Miracle’ with Celine Dion. He was on the Board of Play It Strange Charitable Trust from 2007 to 2017. He has been involved with the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards for 20 years. Mr Thom has mentored small business leaders through The Icehouse’s Owner Manager Programme since 2002.
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THOMPSON, Ms Sandra Dawn (Sandy)
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to governance, education and children.
Ms Sandy Thompson has contributed to education and governance in the not-for-profit sector in New Zealand for more than 30 years.
Ms Thompson led formation of the National Association for Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) in 1993 and was its Chief Executive Officer until 2004. In 1999 on behalf of the community, she oversaw policy development to extend the childcare subsidy to include school age children, allowing low-income families access to affordable childcare while at work. There are now around 1,200 OSCAR programmes nationally. She was a programme lead for the Graduate Diploma in Not-for-Profit Management at UNITEC for 11 years, also holding a Head of Department role. She has mentored and guided the sustainable establishment of numerous successful non-profit organisations nationally. She co-founded founded LEAD, the Centre for Not-for-Profit Governance and Leadership of which she is currently a director. She has served on various boards including as Chair of ECPAT Child Alert Trust New Zealand, and Co-Chair of Hui E! Community Aotearoa. She was the Pacific Regional Representative for ECPAT International from 2017 to 2021. Ms Thompson has worked with several national and international organisations to engage them in the elimination of commercial sexual exploitation of children, and shared her expertise at the International Summit on Child Protection in Travel and Tourism in Columbia in 2018.
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VAN GELDER, Dr Leslie Gail
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to conservation and dark sky sanctuaries.
Dr Leslie Van Gelder has been a leading figure in major conservation and dark sky initiatives in the Otago region.
Dr Van Gelder is a founder and Co-Chair of the Southern Lakes Sanctuary, one of New Zealand’s largest conservation projects, and is Chair of the Queenstown Lakes District Climate Reference Group. She holds several governance roles for the promotion and protection of southern dark skies, including Chair of the Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Skies Group and Trustee for the Winterstellar Charitable Trust. In 2025 she led a five-year community effort to achieve International Dark Sky status for Glenorchy, making it the 23rd dark sky sanctuary in the world. She was selected as a representative for Tāhuna Glenorchy on the international Preserving Legacies initiative, providing strategies for local leaders to assess and respond to climate risks in 12 significant sites globally. She has contributed to regional strategic advisory initiatives, including Queenstown’s economic diversification plan, destination management plan, and the creativity, heritage and culture strategy. She served as a committee member of Forest and Bird’s Central Otago Lakes branch and was a member for the Mayor’s Vision 2050 taskforce. She was Executive Officer for the Whakatipu Wildlife Trust from 2018 to 2021. Dr Van Gelder also holds the role of Glenorchy community librarian.
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WILLIAMSON, Mr Kenneth Ivan (Ken), KStJ, QSM, JP
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to governance and the community.
Mr Ken Williamson is a business mentor and long-serving volunteer who has held significant governance, leadership, and fundraising roles within his community.
Mr Williamson has been actively involved in the Order of St John since 1969, serving as the Chair of its Central Region, a governor of its Priory Board, and currently serving its Priory Chapter. In 2013 he became the founding Chair of the Momentum Waikato Community Foundation, and is currently a founding Trustee of the Waikato Regional Property Trust. He has held or has current governance roles with many organisations including Sky City Trust, Midland Sexual Support Services Trust, the Waikato Chiefs, Magic Netball, and Peak Indoor Sports Centre. He has had a longstanding involvement supporting Te Whakaruruhau Waikato Women’s Refuge and the McKenzie Centre for children with special needs. He has contributed to the Hamilton Kudos Scientific Awards Trust, the University of Waikato Foundation, and served on several local school boards. He is a Fellow of the Insurance Brokers Corporation of New Zealand and became a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Directors in 2022. He recently became a Trustee of Trust Waikato, and in 2024 was appointed a member of the Waitangi Tribunal. Mr Williamson chaired the re-establishment of WINTEC Waikato Polytechnic and is now their Deputy Chair.
HONOURS
- Knight of Grace of the Order of St John
- Queen’s Service Medal, New Year 2009
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WILLIAMSON, Mrs Sharon Mary
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to hockey.
Mrs Sharon Williamson has contributed more than 30 years to hockey in New Zealand across a variety of roles.
Mrs Williamson was a coach at North Harbour Hockey Association (NHHA) from 2007 to 2019, coaching across youth representative teams and senior women’s teams. She chaired the Board of the NHHA from 2010 to 2013, and has served as a Hockey New Zealand Board member since 2014 and Chair from 2023 to 2025. She was a Trustee of the Harbour Hockey Charitable Trust (HHCT) for 16 years, and chaired the National Hockey Centre Governance Group from 2014 to 2017, playing a pivotal role in the development and delivery of the $50 million National Hockey Centre in Albany. She established Hockey New Zealand’s national governance network for hockey association chairs, and reformed the governance structure of the HHCT and National Hockey Centre to secure long-term stability for NHHA and its 5,000 players. Her international advocacy has strengthened Hockey New Zealand’s presence globally and renewed international hockey governance relationships. Mrs Williamson is a Life Member of NHHA and Hockey New Zealand, has received a Gold Service Award and the Pakistan Trophy from Hockey New Zealand, and was awarded the Sultan Azlan Shah Award by the International Hockey Federation in 2020.
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WONG, Mr Rodney Jack
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to business and the community.
Mr Rodney Wong is a prominent businessman who has helped the establishment of significant facilities that benefit wildlife and the community.
Mr Wong co-founded the Wildbase Recovery Centre, securing funding and helping lead the development of the nationally significant native wildlife hospital and rehabilitation facility. He was appointed Trustee to the Eastern and Central Community Trust Board in 2025. As a Trustee of the Palmerston North Hospital Foundation, he helped the funding and development of a children’s emergency room in the Accident and Emergency department. He chaired the multi-denominational charitable social service agency, Manchester House. He was CEO of International Fine Foods for 10 years, and CEO, owner and Managing Director of Yoplait New Zealand. He chaired the New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research, leading the merger to form Plant and Food Research and served as Deputy Chair. He is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and was a director on the National Science Challenge’s Centre for High Value Nutrition. He is Chair of the Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust, where he was instrumental in promoting the history and contributions of Chinese New Zealanders. Mr Wong’s involvement with Rotary since 1988 has included time as lower North Island District Governor and President of Awapuni Rotary Club.
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WOODFORD, Dr Keith Bernard
To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
For services to agriculture and agribusiness.
Dr Keith Woodford has made major contributions to agrifood systems and agribusiness, both within New Zealand and internationally.
Dr Woodford is a retired academic who holds an honorary position as Professor of Agrifood Systems at Lincoln University and consults through his company Agrifood Systems Limited. From 2000 to 2015, he was Professor of Farm Management and Agribusiness at Lincoln University. He has undertaken professional assignments in more than 20 countries for multiple organisations, working at the interface between farm management, rural development, and agribusiness. In New Zealand he worked closely with farmers caught in the Mycoplasma bovis epidemic. He co-led the China components of the Food and Agribusiness Market Experience programme (FAME). He is well known for his scientific work and authorships relating to A1 beta-casein and A2 milk. His book ‘Devil in the Milk: Health and Politics of A1 and A2 Milk’ was first published in New Zealand and Australia in 2007, with subsequent editions published in the United States in 2009, New Zealand in 2010, and a Russian-language version in 2018. He has successfully mentored 13 PhD candidates as their principal supervisor and similarly for more than 20 Master-thesis candidates. Dr Woodford has authored 68 refereed papers together with more than 400 farmer and industry-focused articles in both the print media and online.