Legend Suzanne Prentice recognised

Ms Suzanne Prentice’s career in music and television has spanned 50 years, with musical performances with notable international artists including Julio Iglesias, Dolly Parton and Kris Kristofferson, while also contributing to community initiatives. Ms Prentice has featured on the New Zealand Music Charts and in numerous television shows in both New Zealand and Australia, and internationally. Her career since 1995 has seen her inducted into the Australia Hands of Fame in 1997 and two Australasian bestselling lifestyle books titled in 2002 and 2004 respectively. While pursuing her international music industry career, she has also served as the Events Coordinator for Southland Hospice. She was one of three people who, over 18 years, wrote a series of shows called ‘Kids for Kids’ which toured nationally each year, giving thousands of New Zealand school children the opportunity to perform with her on stage, building their confidence and self-esteem, at the same time raising the awareness of under-privileged children worldwide. The shows ‘Kids for Kids’ and ‘Prentice and Friends’ raised 13.7 million dollars in sponsorship for underprivileged children. She was an ambassador for World Vision for more than twenty years. Ms Prentice was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Wrest Point Entertainment Roll of Honour in 2016. Suzanne becomes a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.