{"id":212781,"date":"2026-01-02T07:06:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T07:06:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/212781\/"},"modified":"2026-01-02T07:06:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T07:06:11","slug":"maori-recognised-for-2026-in-new-year-honours-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/212781\/","title":{"rendered":"M\u0101ori recognised for 2026 in New Year Honours list"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Waikato,<\/p>\n

\nProfessor Thomas Charles Roa has become a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to M\u0101ori language and education
\nPhoto: RNZ \/ Pokere Paewai\n<\/p>\n

The Minister for M\u0101ori Development is praising those named on the New Year Honours list.<\/p>\n

M\u0101ori who have been recognised for 2026 include Companions, Officers, and Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit, as well as recipients of the King’s Service Order and Medal.<\/p>\n

Tama Potaka, who is also the Minister for M\u0101ori Crown Relations, said they demonstrate deep and enduring commitment to M\u0101ori advancement and community leadership across Aotearoa.<\/p>\n

“I’m particularly inspired and motivated by those M\u0101ori leaders and people working in the iwi, hap\u016b and wh\u0101nau space who are doing some wonderful work in maintaining and uplifting our identity, but also continuing our traditions and our tikanga through to our mokopuna,” he said.<\/p>\n

\"bridge\"\/<\/p>\n

\nMinister for M\u0101ori Crown Relations Tama Potaka
\nPhoto: RNZ \/ Mark Papalii\n<\/p>\n

However, Potaka said they did not work alone.<\/p>\n

“I think it’s wonderful that we’ve been able to honour and recognise people through this New Year’s list, and no doubt there will be further worthy people that are honoured and awarded in the King’s Birthday list coming up in six months, but for this moment, just to reflect on and thank the many recipients of honours and recognition for their contributions to their own wh\u0101nau, and particularly for New Zealand as a whole.<\/p>\n

“I do also recognise that within nearly everybody that’s been awarded an honour and award today and recognised for their massive contribution, there are often wives and husbands and children and parents and spouses and cousins that are behind them, and whilst individuals do get awards and recognition, often that comes with stronger wh\u0101nau and stronger communities behind them.”<\/p>\n

Renowned M\u0101ori academic appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit<\/p>\n

Professor Thomas Charles Roa has become a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to M\u0101ori language and education.<\/p>\n

Tom Roa, who is a Professor of M\u0101ori and Indigenous Studies at the University of Waikato, has been a tireless advocate for te reo M\u0101ori.<\/p>\n

\"Ng\u0101ti<\/p>\n

\nProfessor Thomas Charles Roa
\nPhoto: Supplied\n<\/p>\n

He is a founder of Te Wiki o Te Reo M\u0101ori movement in the 1970s.<\/p>\n

His leadership has shaped M\u0101ori language revitalisation and educational excellence, Potaka said.<\/p>\n

Roa said he was honoured to be recognised, but should not be the only one.<\/p>\n

“There are so many people who have been a part of my journey,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I enjoy that saying, ‘I see as far as I can see because I stand on the shoulders of giants.’ I’ve had the pleasure of being mentored, being taught, and learning at the feet of giants.<\/p>\n

“One in particular, who I think should have been made a Sir, is Koro W\u0113tere.<\/p>\n

“I’ve also spent time with people like Sir Pita Sharples, Sir T\u012bmoti K\u0101retu, and Dame Pania Tyson-Nathan, who I very much look up to, and I like to think that I follow their example.”<\/p>\n

M\u0101ori leadership, language, and service recognised<\/p>\n

Rod Drury has become a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business, the technology industry, and philanthropy.<\/p>\n

\"Xero<\/p>\n

\n

Photo: Supplied\n<\/p>\n

Leith Pirika Comer has become a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to M\u0101ori, governance, and education.<\/p>\n

Rachel Emere Taulelei has become a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business, M\u0101ori, and governance.<\/p>\n

Professor Beverley-Anne Lawton has become a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to women’s health.<\/p>\n

Christina Cowan has become an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to M\u0101ori, particularly blind and low vision people.<\/p>\n

Te Warihi Kokowai Hetaraka has become an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to M\u0101ori and art.<\/p>\n

Waihoroi Paraone Hoterene has become an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to M\u0101ori and M\u0101ori language education.<\/p>\n

Roger Bruce Douglas Drummond has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby and M\u0101ori.<\/p>\n

Dr Lorraine Shirley Eade has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to M\u0101ori, governance and the community.<\/p>\n

Hori Te Moanaroa Parata has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to conservation and M\u0101ori.<\/p>\n

Andrew Ruawhitu Pokaia has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to M\u0101ori and education.<\/p>\n

Arihia Amiria Stirling has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education and M\u0101ori.<\/p>\n

K\u0101ren Eirene Johnson has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education and human rights.<\/p>\n

Gail Henrietta Maria Thompson has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to M\u0101ori and conservation.<\/p>\n

Helena Audrey Tuteao has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to people with disabilities and M\u0101ori.<\/p>\n

Mark Joseph Harawira has become a Companion of the King’s Service Order for services to M\u0101ori education, arts and conservation.<\/p>\n

Bonita Joanne Bigham has received the King’s Service Medal for services to local government and M\u0101ori.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Professor Thomas Charles Roa has become a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":209597,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[48,47,111,43,139,69,49,46,44,45],"class_list":{"0":"post-212781","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-zealand","8":"tag-audio","9":"tag-current-affairs","10":"tag-new-zealand","11":"tag-news","12":"tag-newzealand","13":"tag-nz","14":"tag-podcasts","15":"tag-public-radio","16":"tag-radio-new-zealand","17":"tag-rnz"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=212781"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212781\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/209597"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=212781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=212781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=212781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}