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December 30, 2015
Hapi place for New Zealand Order of Merit
Waatea Team
Posted On December 30, 2015
Robin Hapi of Ngati Kahungunu, who managed the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission through the turbulent years when iwi and urban Maori scrapped about how settlement assets should be allocated, has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year’s Honours List.
His award is for services to Maori, the community and governance, indicating the wide scope of his activities.
After stepping down as chief executive when the commission went through the transition to the current form of Te Ohu Kaimoana, the former public servant was picked to chair the settlement company Aotearoa Fisheries, where his achievements included promoting teaching of swimming for New Zealand children.
He took on other governance roles, including chairing the council of Te Wananga o Raukawa and the board of Business and Economic Research Ltd, as well as serving on the boards of Callaghan Innovation and New Zealand Trade and Investment.
He is involved in leadership roles in the Foxton community, and is an active member of his marae communities at Te Hauke in Hawke’s Bay.
There are relatively few Maori in the list, which will be remembered for the elevation of recently-retired
All Black captain Ritchie McCaw to the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Filmmaker Jane Campion and former Commerce Commission chair Paula Rebstock, who is heading a review of Child, Youth and Family Services, were made dames.
Champion shearer David Fagan and Supreme Court Justice Terence Arnold were knighted.
Educationalists Professor Mere Berryman of Ngai Tuhoe and Ngati Awa and Emeritus Professor Russell Bishop of Tainui and Ngati Pukeko were made Officers of Order, despite their signature achievement, the Te Kotahitanga programme for raising Maori achievement in secondary schools, being sidelined by the Government.
Former Silver Ferns captain Waimarama Taumanu from Ngati Porou and Ngai Tahu, who was awarded an MBE in 1992 for her contribution to netball, was upgraded to Officer of the Order for her continued contribution tom the coaching and administration of the sport.
Archibishop Brown Turei of Ngati Porou and Whanau a Apanui was made an Officer of the Order for services to the Anglican Church.
New members of the Order of New Zealand include Rotorua lawyer John Chadwick for services to Maori and the law, Henare Kingi of Lower Hutt for services to Maori and broadcasting, kappa haka maven and te reo champion Te Aroha Paenga of west Auckland, entrepreneur and now Kono chief executive Rachel Taulelei and veteran midwife, Mina Timutimu.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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