Māori leadership, service to whānau, and decades-long commitment to te reo Māori, health, education and community wellbeing feature strongly in the New Year Honours 2026, with Māori recipients recognised across senior honours and service medals.
The honours, announced on 31 December, acknowledge individuals whose mahi has shaped Māori advancement locally, nationally and internationally. Background notes released with the Honours List highlight Māori contributions that span language revitalisation, iwi governance, health equity, disability advocacy, cultural preservation and economic leadership.
Among those recognised at Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) level are several prominent Māori leaders whose work has been deeply rooted in kaupapa Māori.
Professor Tom Roa of Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato and Ngāti Apakura is honoured for services to Māori language and education. A founding figure in the Māori language movement, Professor Roa played a pivotal role in the 1972 Māori Language Petition, the recognition of te reo Māori as an official language, and the establishment of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. His academic and governance work has helped embed tikanga and mātauranga Māori within tertiary education and Crown institutions.
Also appointed a CNZM is Leith Comer of Te Arawa – Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Māmoe and Ngāti Pāhauwera, recognised for services to Māori, governance and education. Mr Comer has led iwi settlement processes, chaired national bodies including Veterans’ Affairs, and continues to advocate for Māori economic development, education equity and iwi-led regional growth.
In health and wellbeing, Professor Bev Lawton (Ngāti Porou) is recognised for services to women’s health. As founder of Te Tātai Hauora o Hine, she has led research transforming cervical screening, maternity care and reproductive health outcomes, with a strong focus on equity for wāhine Māori. Her work has influenced national policy and international Indigenous health initiatives.
The honours also recognise Māori leadership in business and governance. Rachel Taulelei of Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Huia ki Katihiku and Ngāti Rārua is appointed a CNZM for services to business, Māori and governance. A former chief executive of Māori food company Kono, she continues to shape Māori economic development through governance roles spanning iwi enterprises, global trade forums and professional sport.
At the Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) level, Māori service at the community and cultural coalface is strongly represented.
Te Warihi Hetaraka of Ngāti Wai, Ngāpuhi and Tainui is recognised for services to Māori and art. A master carver and tohunga, his work has revitalised Māori histories and narratives in national spaces, marae and international contexts. He has also served as a cultural authority in significant Waitangi Tribunal claims and governance roles across Te Tai Tokerau.
Waihoroi Hoterene of Ngāti Hine, Te Aupōuri and Ngāti Rangi is honoured for services to Māori and Māori language education. As the inaugural Chair of Te Mātāwai, he helped establish a Māori-led approach to language revitalisation, alongside decades of work in broadcasting, translation, iwi leadership and education.
In disability advocacy, Chrissie Cowan of Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne and Ngāti Porou is recognised for services to Māori, particularly blind and low-vision people. As Chief Executive of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa, she has championed culturally grounded services for tāngata whaikaha Māori and played a key role in national and international advocacy on accessibility and Indigenous rights.
Collectively, the Māori recipients in the 2026 Honours List reflect the breadth of Māori contribution – from revitalising language and culture, to improving health equity, strengthening iwi governance, and advancing Māori participation in the economy and public life.
While the honours system has often been critiqued for its ability to fully capture collective and intergenerational Māori service, the 2026 list highlights individuals whose mahi has uplifted communities and helped embed Māori perspectives within national institutions.
