Knighthood for Karetu in Queen’s Birthday Honours

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Knighthood for Karetu in Queen’s Birthday Honours

Timoti Karetu of Ngai Tuhoe and Ngati Kahungunu has been made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for service to the Maori language.

The 80-year-old was the first professor of Maori studies at Waikato University and the first Maori Language Commissioner, as well as being a long time chair of Te Kohanga Reo National Trust.

He is an adjunct professor Te Ipukarea, the national Maori language institute based at Auckland University of Technology and a director of Te Panekiretanga, the Institute of Excellence in Te Reo Maori.

Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox says he is also sought after around the world for his knowledge about the revival and retention of indigenous language.

Jim Gray was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Maori and governance.

Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell says Mr Gray, from Rotorua, has served as a trustee on almost 40 Maori authorities.

Other new Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit include:

Assistant Police Commissioner Wally Haumaha, for services to the New Zealand Police, Maori, Pacific and ethnic communities;

Former Maori All Black Heitia Hiha, who was involved in the claims of Ahuriri hapu and other community activies around Napier;

Moeraki upoko David Higgins, who played a major role in gathering and presenting evidence for the Ngai Tahu Fisheries claim to the Waitangi Tribunal.

Actor and director Rachel House, whose 25 year career in the arts has most recently included being as the voice of Gramma Tala in the Disney animated film Moana;

Maori governance expert Susan Huria, a director of the Ngāi Tahu Development Corporation; and

Mental health nurse Moe Milne.

New Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit include:

Educator and former Maori Party president Pem Bird from Murupara, for services to education and Maori;

William Gray from Tolaga Bay, who has been chair of Te Rawheoro Marae since 2000 and sits on the Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti iwi forum of six local marae.

Sally Ikinofo, the chair of partnership school sponsor Rise UP Trust, for services to Maori and Pacific communities;

Peter MacGregor from Flaxmere, a former Maori Affairs, Te Puni Kokiri and Agriculture Industry Training Organisation staffer, for services to Māori and agriculture;

Te Kei Merito from Ngati Awa, for services to conservation and Maori, including chairing Te Tapatoru-a-Toi, which manages three iconic conservation sites in the Whakatane area.

Marama Pala-Mullin, executive director of the INA Maori, Indigenous and South Pacific HIV & AIDS Foundation, and an internationally recognised advocate for people living with HIV and AIDS, especially those in Maori, Pacific Island and other indigenous communities;

Pat Snedden, the chair of the Manaiakalani Education Trust services to education and a crown negotiator for the Muriwhenua and He Toa Takitini treaty settlements, for services to education and Maori;

Former Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated chief executive Toro Waaka from Napier, who has more than four decades of involvement with employment, community development, conservation, and tourism.

Queen’s Service Medal recipients include Ngati Parewahawaha kuia Te Kune Blackmore from Bulls; Katie Dawson for services to Māori and seniors, including the established of a kōhanga reo for Papakura, Manurewa and Takinini area; long-serving Ruapehu College teacher Merrilyn George for service to education and the Ohakune community; Rehia Hanara for services to Māori and education as an advocate for Māori education, Te Reo and tikanga; educator Sharon Maynard for services to Māori and education for more than 40 years in Gisborne and the wider Tairawhiti rohe; and Marara Te Tai Hook for her service to Māori, specifically the hapū of Ngāti Kuta and Patu Heka in Te Taitokerau.

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