Investitures - Wellington

  • <span class="title">Police officers honoured</span><br/>Several members of the New Zealand Police received Royal New Zealand Honours from Governor-General, Hon Anand Satyanand, at an investiture ceremony at the Wellington Town Hall on 24 March 2009.  Pictured after the ceremony were, from left: Constable John Ward, Porirua, QSM; Assistant Commissioner Jon White and Deputy Commissioner, Rob Pope; Gavin McFadyen, Wellington, QSO;  Sergeant Kevin Stewart , Napier, QSM; Superintendent Brett England, North Shore, MNZM; and Det Inspector Bruce Good, Auckland, QSM.
  • <span class="title">Neillie Paratene</span><br/>Nellie Paratene, of Masterton, received the Queen's Service Medal on 25 March 2009 for services to the community.  Mrs Paratene has been involved in the Masterton community for more than 30 years.  She is a Māori warden and has been involved with the Wairarapa Māori Wardens' Association.  She was the foundation chairperson of Cameron Community House for many years and a foundation member of the Te Kaunihere Kaumatua O Wairarapa Council.  Mrs Paratene has also been involved with a number of other community organisations, including the Hiona Sports and Cultural Club, the Māori Women's Welfare League, and the Masterton Morehu Komiti Whaiti.
  • <span class="title">Samuel Moeke </span><br/>Samuel Moeke, of Hastings, received the Queen's Service Medal on 25 March 2009 for services to Māori.  Mr Moeke has been involved in the Māori community as a master carver and expert in te reo in the Hawke's Bay region for more than 25 years.  He was the key carver for the Whare kai and Poupou for Mihiroa Marae and the Kohupatiki Marae.  He also trains and fosters young Māori carvers in the translation of genealogical history onto native timber.  Mr Moeke assisted with the translation and interpretation of four handwritten volumes of Te Kura used for an ancestral overview of Mohaka/Waikare Waitangi Tribunal hearing.
  • <span class="title">Defence service recognised</span><br/><p> Two members of the New Zealand Defence Force recieved the Distinguished Service Decoration at an investiture ceremony at the Wellington  Town Hall on 25 March 2009.   Pictured with Brigadier Phil Gibbons, Deputy Chief of Army, were (centre) Warrant Officer Neil Roberts, Upper Hutt, and Gunner Phillip Manning, of Palmerston North.  </p> <p> Mr Roberts has served as warrant officer with the Royal New Zealand Navy since January 2006.  He was instrumental in arranging the first ever regional navies' warrant officers' seminar held in Auckland, which is a benchmark, other Navies are, now looking to emulate.  He has also worked closely with the United States Navy's Pacific Fleet to develop an enhanced programme in Hawai'i for the Navy's sailors and has instituted a comprehensive range of international engagement activities between the RNZN and other navies.   </p> <p> Mr Manning was on sentry duty at the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team site in Bamyan in March 2008 when an altercation developed between a member of the Afghan National Police, who was also on sentry duty and another policeman from the Regional Training Centre, who was attempting to enter the compound together, with an unauthorised Afghani soldier.  The RTC policeman snatched the Afghani sentry's radio, who retaliated by striking the RTC policeman with an AK machine gun magazine.  Mr Manning intervened, by placing himself between the two policemen and disarming the RTC policeman of his pistol and the rocks with which he was assaulting the sentry.  </p>
  • <span class="title">Dr Margaret Southwick</span><br/>Dr Margaret Southwick, of Porirua, received the Queen's Service Medal on 25 March 2009 for services to the Pacific Islands community.  Dr Southwick has been involved with the health of the Pacific Islands community in Wellington for many years.  She was instrumental in the establishment of the Pacific Health Research Centre and School of Pacific Health Education at the Whitireia Community Polytechnic.  She is the lead researcher for Searching for Pacific Solutions: a Community-Based Joint Intervention Project of the Ministry of Health, the Health Research Council, the Alcohol Advisory Council and ACC.  She is a member of the Pacific Research Advisory Committee and the Health Workforce Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Health.  Dr Southwick is a councillor of the New Zealand Nursing Council, where she helped to develop the Making Waves Pacific Community Sexual Health Trainers Programme.
  • <span class="title">Firefighters honoured</span><br/><p> Four firefighters received the Queen's Service Medal for services to the New Zealand Fire Service at an investiture ceremony at the Wellington Town Hall on 25 March 2009.   They were, from left: Butch Waterhouse, Te Puke; Tony Haggerty, Waitakere; Glenn Cockburn, Rolleston; and Ben Goddard, Ohakune.  </p>
  • <span class="title">Albert Martin</span><br/><p> Rev Albert Martin, of New Plymouth, received the Queen's Service Medal on 24 March 2009 for services to Māori.  He has been involved in the Taranaki community for many years.  He is the minister of the Okato Co-operating Parish, serves as the Padre to the New Zealand Army Taranaki Division and as a Chaplin at a number of local rest homes.  He is involved with a number of community activities, including the Mururaupatu Culture Group.  He participates in the Steps Program for youth with alcohol and drug-related problems.  He also works alongside the New Zealand Police, the New Plymouth Prison, the Department of Labour and other organisations in supporting Māori youth.  He was also a representative on the national executive of Māori Wardens. </p>
  • <span class="title">Steve Maharey</span><br/><p> Hon Steve Maharey, of Palmerston North, received the Insignia of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit on 24 March 2009 for services as a Member of Parliament.  Mr Maharey was the MP for Palmerston North from 1990 to 2008.  During his parliamentary career, he was Minister of Broadcasting, Crown Research Institutes, Housing, Science and Technology, and was the Minister of Social Development and Employment from 1999 to 2004.  He also served on the Palmerston North City Council from 1986 to 1989.  He was a Senior Lecturer in sociology at Massey University before entering Parliament and has published widely in his specialist areas of interest; media and cultural studies and social change. </p>
  • <span class="title">John Laurenson</span><br/><p> <br /> The Honourable John Laurenson, of Auckland, received the Insignia of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit on 24 March 2009 for services as a Judge of the High Court of New Zealand.  Mr Laurenson was a Judge of the High Court for nine years until 2005 and sat regularly in the Divisional Courts of the Court of Appeal.  He was chairman of the Police Disciplinary Tribunal and a member of the Serious Fraud Office Prosecution Board.  He has been an active member of the legal profession including as a member of the Taranaki District Law Society and as a member of the New Zealand Law Society Appeal Board.  He was also involved with rugby, especially as chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union Judicial Committees and Appeal Council. </p>
  • <span class="title">John Weel</span><br/><p> Warrant Officer Class Two John Weel, of Palmerston North, received the Distinguished Service Decoration on 24 March 2009 for services to the New Zealand Defence Force.  On 16 January 2008, Warrant Officer Weel was travelling on a United States aid helicopter that crashed west of Bamyan in Afghanistan due to bad weather.  He quickly accounted for the crew and other passengers, organised their rescue from the wrecked airframe and the treatment for the injured.  He also ensured the victims' physical condition did not worsen by taking steps to protect them against the cold weather.  His calm manner reassured his fellow passengers and crew while they recovered from the effects of shock after the crash.  Warrant Officer Weel then organised a safe evacuation from the crash site to a nearby village and he organised security at the village until the rescue team arrived. </p>
  • <span class="title">Nick Willis</span><br/><p> Nick Willis, of Lower Hutt, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit on 24 March 2009 for services to athletics.  Since 2000 Mr Willis has competed internationally as a middle distance runner in the 800m, 1500m, one mile, 3000m and 5000m events.  He won the 1,500 metres at the 2006 and 2008 New Zealand Track &amp; Field Championships.  He has competed at the International Association of Athletics Federation championships in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.  Mr Willis won the 1500m at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, the men’s 1500m bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2008 Fifth Avenue Mile street race in New York. </p> <p> &nbsp; </p>
  • <span class="title">Dr Diane Mara</span><br/><p> Dr Diane Mara, of Napier, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit on 24 March 2009 for services to the Pacific Islands community.  Dr Mara has contributed to teacher education and educational research for more than 35 years.  She has been a primary school teacher and lecturer in teacher education and has worked to improve educational resources for Maori and Pacific Island children and women.  She has researched many aspects of Pasifika education.  She is the national president of PACIFICA.  She has also been a member of the think tank that developed the Pacific Women's Economic Development Plan.  Dr Mara is a member of the Pacific Women's Economic Development Advisory Board. </p>
  • <span class="title">Elspeth Kennedy</span><br/><p> Elspeth Kennedy, of Nelson, received the Insignia of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit on 24 March 2009 for services to the community.  Mrs Kennedy's key focus since her retirement has been to expand the facilities for the care of terminally ill patients in the Nelson region.  She has been the Trustee and Chairman of the Nelson Region Hospice Trust since 1998.  She was involved in fund-raising to renovate the hospice and increase the number of its in-patient beds and provide ancillary rooms, which were opened in 2008.  Mrs Kennedy has also been involved with a number of other charitable organisations, including serving on the Nelson Scanner Appeal Trust. </p>
  • <span class="title">Paul Swain</span><br/><p> Hon Paul Swain, of Upper Hutt, received the Insignia of a Companion of the Queen's Service Order on 24 March 2009 for services as a Member of Parliament.  Mr Swain was the MP for Eastern Hutt from 1990 to 1996 and the MP for Rimutaka from 1996 to 2008.  He held a wide range of ministerial portfolios from 1999 to 2005, including as Minister of Statistics, Commerce, Communcations and Information Technology.  Mr Swain was also the Minister for Small Business, Transport, Corrections and State Owned State Owned Enterprises. </p>
  • <span class="title">Garry Ward</span><br/><p> Garry Ward, of Waikanae, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit on 24 March 2009 for services to broadcasting.  Mr Ward has been a broadcaster with Wellington Newstalk ZB  for more than 40 years.  He has been the host of The Great Weekender since 1983.  He has been associated with many sporting codes as a player and administrator, in particular with softball as a member of the New Zealand Softball Association.  As a broadcaster, he has covered many events at Commonwealth and Olympic Games.  He is actively involved in supporting the work of many charitable and sporting organisations and is a member of the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame. </p>
  • <span class="title">Cassidy Tangaere</span><br/><p> Cassidy Tangaere, of Wellington, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit on 24 March 2009 for services to Māori language education.  Mr Tangaere has contributed to the teaching of Māori language and culture for many years.  He was an advisor in Māori and Pacific Island education with the Department of Education in Christchurch, where he helped improve teachers' capabilities in teaching te reo.  He regularly translates English reports into Māori and is consulted on te reo by government departments.  He has contributed to Learning Media publications and was a regular writer of comic strips for secondary schools.  </p>
  • <span class="title">Rick Wells</span><br/><p> Rick Wells, of Lower Hutt, received the Insignia of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit on 24 March 2009 for services to business.  Mr Wells was the chief executive of Formway Furniture Ltd for some 20 years and since stepping down from that role in 2001, he has served as the Company's chairman.  He brought the business 1981 and developed it into a local exporting business with more than 200 staff, with additional branches and agencies across Australasia.  Formway has won several awards for its designs, including the outstanding individual award at the Design in Business Awards in 2008.  Mr Wells is also on the Better by Design Advisory Board and is a member of the Furniture Association of New Zealand. </p>
  • <span class="title">Garth McKenzie</span><br/>Garth McKenzie, of Wellington, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit on 24 March 2009 for services to the Salvation Army. Commissioner McKenzie was commissioned as a Salvation Army officer in 1975 and since then has led several corps (church) centres throughout New Zealand.  He has directed regional and territorial corps in New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga and has been involved in youth and children's works.  He has been a military chaplain in the Territorial Forces.  He also served as Territorial Commander for New Zealand.  Commissioner McKenzie has also been a member of the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services and Vision Network of New Zealand.
  • <span class="title">Mark Prebble</span><br/>Mark Prebble, of Lower Hutt, received the Insignia of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit on 24 March 2009 for public services.  Dr Prebble served as the State Services Commissioner from 2004 to 2008.  He provided a new leadership model for the State Services Commission; which included the setting of standards, providing direction for improved management in the state sector, and measuring the effectiveness of government agencies in meeting the needs of New Zealanders.  Dr Prebble previously worked in a number of policy and managerial roles in the state sector for some 30 years, including serving as the Chief Executive of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
  • <span class="title">Taime Samuel</span><br/>Taime Samuel, of Hastings, received the Queen's Service Medal for services to the Pacific Islands community at an investiture ceremony at the Wellington Town Hall on 24 March 2009.   Mrs Samuel has been involved in the Pacific Islands community in Hawke's Bay for more than 10 years.  She was a foundation delegate to the Cook Islands Regional Council and is a member of the Hawke's Bay Cook Islands Council.  She has been involved in the Cook Islands Hawke's Bay Prison Prayer Programme and was president of Tangiianui Pacifica Hawke's Bay.  Mrs Samuel has also been an announcer on Hawke's Bay Cook Islands Community Radio, involved in the Cook Islands Sports Federation and the Hawke's Bay Cook Islands Sports Association.
  • <span class="title">Paula Tesoriero</span><br/>Paula Tesoriero, of Wellington, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit on 24 March 2009 for services to cycling.   Ms Tesoriero has been competing internationally in road cycling since 2006.  She has competed and won gold and silver medals at the New Zealand Road Championships in 2006 and 2007, the Australian Track Championships in 2006 and 2007, and the Oceania Paralympic Championships in 2007.  She won the bronze medal in the women's individual pursuit and won the gold medal in the women's 500 metres time trial at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing.

The Governor-General, Hon Anand Satyanand, hosted a series of investiture ceremonies at the Civic Suites in the Wellington Town Hall on 24 and 25 March 2009