Fifteen people from across the Bay of Plenty are among those on the Queen's Birthday 2018 Honours List.

The honourees have been recognised in areas as diverse as hockey, performing arts, music, policing, conservation, and the prevention of domestic violence.

Eight honourees are from Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty, three are from Rotorua, three are from the Eastern Bay of Plenty, and one from Murupara.

They join well-known New Zealanders such as former Prime Minister Bill English, singer John Rowles, and entertainers Jools and Lynda Topp, who have been made knights and dames.

Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit

BRENNAN, Ms Timua Te Puhi Kai Ariki

For services to music and Maori performing arts

Ms Timua Brennan has had a life-long involvement with Māori performing arts and has delivered numerous soloist performances as an operatic singer nationally and internationally.

Ms Brennan has given solo performances at events of national significance such as Canterbury earthquake commemorations and Waitangi Day celebrations, as well as regular performances with such events as Opera in the Pa outdoor concerts and for the Rotorua Lakeside Concert Charitable Trust. She was an Adjudicator for the New Zealand Lockwood Aria signing competition between 2009 and 2016 across several categories, and has previously been an adjudicator for several regional kapa haka competitions. She is a five-time winner of the New Zealand Lockwood Aria in the Māori and Regional Sections and has performed a number of operas and with a range of choirs and orchestras around New Zealand. She conducted the Canti Māori Italian Tour in 2004 as a soloist performing a fusion of Māori and Italian songs. She launched her operatic album ‘Na Te Ao' in 2017, which honours the people and communities of Canterbury affected by the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. She has tutored local students as a specialist vocal coach. Ms Brennan operates a tourism business that provides Māori cultural entertainment on The Lakeland Queen cruise boat on Lake Rotorua.

GEMMING, Mrs Gillian Margaret

For services to hockey

Mrs Gill Gemming has been President of the Tauranga Hockey Association since 2016, having previously been a Board member from 2011 and a coach and manager since 2000.

Since 2000 Mrs Gemming has coached and managed Masters Women's teams in Tauranga and through to international level, with her New Zealand Masters Women's Team having consistently won the Pacific Rim Tournament. She has been Continental Development Manager for the Oceania Hockey Association since 2003, where she has been responsible for delivering the grassroots planning, administration systems, as well as the initial coaching of volunteers to grow the sport in smaller Pacific countries. She has been Director of Hockey at Tauranga Boys' College since 1994. She piloted the Funsticks school programme to encourage more children into the sport, which has since been run throughout New Zealand. She is currently developing the Hockey Without Limits programme for those with disabilities. She was instrumental within the committee that set up the first turf in Tauranga in 1992 and the subsequent expansion to a second turf in 2000. Mrs Gemming led the development of the Bay of Plenty Hockey Council in 1997, who were instrumental in securing a position for hockey in the BayTrust CoachForce Programme which continues today.

AWARDS

Bay of Plenty Service to Sport Award, 2015

NGAWATI, Mrs Carol Ann

For services to sport, education and Maori.

Mrs Carol Ngawati co-founded the Waitakere Māori Touch and Māori Touch New Zealand organisations in 1998 and has since focused on developing and promoting Māori achievement through the medium of touch rugby.

Mrs Ngawati played a key role in giving New Zealand Māori teams the opportunity to participate in international competition through the establishment of the World Indigenous Touch Competition. Māori Touch New Zealand has held successful national tournaments for more than 20 years to select teams for international competition. She was instrumental in establishing a bilingual Māori/English unit at Ranui Primary School. She is the co-founder of He Wero o Nga Wahine, a school and support facility for young mothers to continue their education. She was an inaugural Trustee of the Black Pearl Trust, which established the Black Pearl Awards to celebrate Māori women making a difference in health and the community. This led her to develop and lead the operation of a Mana Wahine Day forum for secondary schools in Auckland and a transition to high school programme for at risk Māori students in West Auckland. As Chairperson of the Waitakere Education Sector Trust she led the development of the Waitakere Education Plan. Mrs Ngawati has served as Chairperson of the Resource Teachers Learning and Behaviour Māori Caucus and Hoani Waititi Marae Trust.

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit

SIMPSON, Ms Judy Ann (Jude)

For services to the prevention of domestic violence.

Ms Jude Simpson facilitates family violence workshops across New Zealand for MSD, Police, District Health Boards and other organisations.

Ms Simpson published the book ‘Lost and Found: A Woman's Living Proof' in 2005, which outlined her personal experiences with abuse. She works as a family violence prevention advocate for the Ministry of Social Development's ‘It's not OK' campaign. She was the project lead which saw Mangere College become the first school in New Zealand to become an ‘It's not OK' school. She is the lead facilitator and educator of the ‘How to Help' workshops for those working in the family violence field. She is the lead Family Harm Facilitator for Police at the Royal New Zealand Police College and was responsible for the design and delivery of a new Family Harm and Prevention Police Recruit Course Curriculum. She has provided expert advice to Senior Police management on victim psychology and best practice approaches to reduce victimisation. She was Family Violence Prevention Advocate for Presbyterian Support Northern from 2007 to 2014. Ms Simpson designed and facilitated an eight-week programme called ‘Whakamanahia Wahine' for the Department of Corrections, focusing on low risk women offenders in the Bay of Plenty.

STANLEY, Mrs Lesley

For services to education and the support of children.

Mrs Stanley has worked in special education as a psychologist since the early 1980s.

In 2000 Mrs Stanley joined the Special Education Service Early Intervention Team in Tauranga supporting pre-school children with disability or behavioural issues and their families. She identified the need for an evidence-based parenting programme to support parents in New Zealand and discovered 'The Incredible Years” (IY) programme developed by Dr Carolyn Webster-Stratton in the United States. She trained as a facilitator in the Incredible Years Parent Programme in 2003 and began to deliver the programme to groups of parents in Tauranga. Having achieved positive results with children and parents, she proposed to the Tauranga management of Special Education to train more staff to deliver the IY programme. She co-established the Tauranga IY Guardian Group to provide governance for this programme. She undertook further training in The Incredible Years Teacher Programme and accreditation as an Incredible Years Mentor in both the Parent and Teacher programmes. More than 20,000 parents and 13,000 teachers have subsequently had access to the programmes after she convinced the Ministry of Education to deliver the programmes nationally. She became a member of the Positive Behaviour for Learning Action Plan as national Practice Leader for IY and between 2010 and 2013 Mrs Stanley trained the national workforce to deliver the IY Teacher programme.

TAYLOR, Senior Constable Phillip Richard

For services to the New Zealand Police and the community.

Senior Constable Phillip Taylor has been involved with the New Zealand Police since 1972, making significant contributions as a Police Dog Handler from 1996 and to the Rotorua Pistol Club on a voluntary basis.

Senior Constable Taylor is the longest serving narcotic detector dog handler in the New Zealand Police Dog Section. He has played instrumental roles in the success of major narcotics operations in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato. He played a key role in developing a new detector dog harness, which is now the national standard and has been distributed in the Pacific. He has represented the Bay of Plenty Police District at the National Police Dog Championships, achieving podium results, and represented New Zealand at the Australasian Police Dog Championships in 2016, placing third equal. He has been a member of the Rotorua Pistol Club for a number of years. As a long serving committee member he has helped manage facilities and organise club, regional and national events. He frequently travels to other clubs across the country to assist with running events. As the Club is one of the most active in New Zealand it hosts most of the national and international competition shooting events and Senior Constable Taylor ensures all events are run to an international safety and security standard, all on a voluntary basis.

HONOURS AND AWARDS

New Zealand Special Service Medal (Erebus), 2007

Companion of the Queen's Service Order

COMER, Mr Leith Pirika

For services to Maori, the State and local government.

Mr Leith Comer was Chief Executive of Te Puni Kōkiri (TPK), the Ministry of Māori Development, from 2001 to 2013.

During this time Mr Comer oversaw the introduction of the Māori Potential approach that replaced the ‘Closing of the Gaps' policy. Under his leadership TPK also published the Māori Economy Report in 2003, provided input into the Māori Television Establishment Act, and the establishment of the Māori Tourism entity, among other initiatives. Previously he was Chair of Lakeland Health Ltd from 1992 to 1997 and helped to establish the Tipu Ora Programme aimed at improving the health of mothers and their babies. He helped establish and was an inaugural member of the Rotorua District Council Te Arawa Standing committee. He led a consortium of Te Arawa and Mātaatua iwi during the sales process of Forestry Corporation and, although the bid was unsuccessful, it served as the forerunner of the successful Central North Island forestry settlement. He is currently Chairman and Executive Director of the Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru Education Trust. He is Chairman of Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi Trust and lead negotiator in their Treaty negotiations. As Chairman of the Rotorua Lakes Council Establishment Board he assisted in established Rotorua Contracting Ltd as a Council controlled organisation. Mr Comer is a member of the New Zealand Parole Board.

Queen's Service Medal

CONNING, Ms Linda Dorothy

For services to conservation.

Ms Linda Conning was appointed to the New Zealand Conservation Authority from 2002 to 2011 and has 25 years' experience as an environmental planning consultant in resource management in Northland, Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty, establishing her own consultancy in 1998.

Ms Conning has undertaken ecological surveys and submitted reports under the Protected Natural Area Programme. She has sought protection for freshwater, coastal and kiwi habitats, forests, wetlands, and shrublands in district and regional plans and continues to do so. She was appointed to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Regional Water Advisory Panel in 2014 and the Rangitaiki Fresh Futures Community Group in 2015. She has been actively involved with the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, serving on the National Executive and its Legal sub-committee, representing Forest and Bird in the Environment Court, and leading a successful ten year campaign to protect the landscape at Whakatane's Kohi Point from proposed development. Ms Conning has lead several native restoration projects on public and private land in Northland including Whangaroa Wild Ginger, and she has worked with others to raise awareness and educate people about kereru in Northland, and shorebirds in Bay of Plenty and elsewhere.

CURNOW, Mrs Irene Eva Hiriwa (Hiriwa)

For services to Maori and education.

Mrs Hiriwa Curnow has taught and promoted te reo and tikanga Māori, particularly as a teacher and Head of Māori Language Studies at Otumoetai College from 1981 to 2013.

Mrs Curnow was the first Māori member of the Otumoetai College Board of Trustees and was a driving force for the establishment of a school marae. She organised an educational Māori history tour of the local community for the Board of Trustees and staff members. She was a member of a panel for the Ministry of Education and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority promoting the teaching of Te Reo Māori and Tikanga Māori and its preservation in schools. She is involved with the Tauranga Teen Parenting Unit and gives freely of her time and knowledge to Tauranga Girls' College and Tauranga Boys' College. She has spent many hours producing kapa haka cloaks and weaving Tukutuku panels for the renovated wharenui at Tauranga Girls' College. She has been a judge of the Manu Kōrero speech competition and a judge of regional kapa haka. She has been involved with national and international kapa haka festivals. Mrs Curnow is an active Life Member of the Māori Women's Welfare League and a member of the Kiteraki Trust Board.

FAUSETT, Miss Merle

For services to music.

Miss Merle Fausett has been involved with music on a voluntary basis in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions for more than 60 years.

Miss Fausett was involved with choirs in Morrinsville in the 1950s and has been Deputy Conductor of Wesley Methodist Church choir since the 1980s. She was musical director of the Tauranga Civic Choir from 1979 to 1991. She has conducted the Silver Singers since 2014, a choir of retirees who perform at rest homes and retirement villages. She has been a committee member between 1988 and 2015 of the Bay of Plenty Symphonia and been Librarian for more than 10 years. She has been an administrator and event organiser for the Symphonia over the years and is a current Friend of the Orchestra. She helped establish and chaired Friends of the Orchestra from 2004 to 2014, who have supported the Symphonia with front of house duties, refreshments at full-day orchestra workshops, and fundraising. She was the Choral Director of a 100-strong choir for five successful ‘Last Night of the Proms' concerts between 1999 and 2013 in the Bay of Plenty community. Ms Fausett was a driving force behind the establishment of the Rising Starts concerto competition for young musicians and served on the Board at inception.

LONG, Mrs Carole Frances

For services to conservation.

Ms Carole Long has been involved with the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand as a volunteer since 1979.

Ms Long has worked across all levels of Forest and Bird, including two five-year terms on the organisation's Executive Board and Council. She established Forest & Bird's Te Puke section, oversaw its development into a recognised branch, and later served on its branch committee. She was a founding member of the Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust and is the Trust's longest serving volunteer, continuing to host fundraising events through her retirement village in Mount Maunganui. These ‘Great Kiwi Morning' events are held annually and include bus trips and presentations on local flora and fauna. She helped establish the Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park, has been involved with the protection of dotterel nesting sites at Maketu and Matakana Island, and has volunteered for the Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Group. More recently she has been involved in efforts to protect Papamoa's sand dune ecosystem. Ms Long has been involved with a number of New Zealand's most prominent conservation battles, including the ‘Save Manapouri' campaign of the early 1970s, and the establishment of Whirinaki Forest Park in 1984.

AWARDS

Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, Distinguished Life Member, 2013

Tauranga City Council Community Spirit Award, Environment and Heritage category, 2010

Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, Old Blue Award, 2007

MAKI-ANDERSON, Mrs Maera

For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

Mrs Maera Maki-Anderson joined the Murupara Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1988 and has been Chief Fire Officer for 13 years.

As Chief Fire Officer in a small low decile community Mrs Maki-Anderson has ensured the brigade has maintained its functionality and overseen additional training for new members. When she learned that the neighbouring Kaingaroa Volunteer Fire Brigade was faced with closure she managed a recruitment drive going door-to-door, rallied the community via a series of meetings, and set up the ‘Help Save the Kaingaroa Fire Brigade' Facebook page. She arranged training to get the recruits up to speed and spent many hours of her spare time to run extra sessions for those unable to attend regular training. Her efforts in supporting the Kaingaroa brigade earned her the Pride of New Zealand Award in the Emergency Services category in 2014. After recovering from a brain aneurysm in 2016 and receiving medical clearance she returned straight to her role as Chief Fire Officer. Mrs Maki-Anderson was also involved with Murupara St John ambulance service from 2003 to 2005.

MANUKAU, Mr Hatete Joe, JP

For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community.

Mr Hatete Joe Manukau has been a volunteer fire fighter with Fire and Emergency New Zealand for 33 years.

Mr Manukau initially joined the Katikati Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1985 and rose through the ranks to become Chief Fire Officer in 2002, a position he continues to hold. He was a key driver and worked with other stakeholders to provide a high quality fit-for-purpose facility for the Katikati Brigade. He has been involved with Region Two, Bay of Plenty Coast Area, United Fire Brigades Association and the Auckland Provincial Fire Brigade Association. Within the wider community he has been involved with the Katikati RSA/Citizen Club, serving as Vice President and a committee member. He has been Māori liaison and a member of the Board of Trustees of Katikati Primary School and Katikati College, and a delegate to the Western Bay of Plenty School Trustees Association. He has been involved with college rugby as a coach, manager and referee, and JMC Rugby with the Katikati Rugby Club. He was an executive committee member of the Katikati Bowling Club. Mr Manukau is currently Chairperson of the Horahora Marae Trustees Association.

SLADE, Mrs Margaret Jean

For services to conservation.

SLADE, Mr Stuart Victor

For services to conservation.

Mrs Margaret Slade and her husband Mr Stuart Slade were foundation members of the Nukuhou Saltmarsh Care Group in 2003.

The Saltmarsh is home to rare and endangered bird species and Mr and Mrs Slade have led the way in restoring the saltmarsh to a healthy state. This has included establishing and maintaining trap-lines, walkways and signage, the clearing of weed species and rubbish, and keeping records of species numbers. The group has won a number of awards for their work and have extended to include care for the Nukuhou River margins and Uretara Island in Ōhiwa Harbour. The couple are skilled potters and have created and donated life-sized replicas of many birds found within the Saltmarsh, as well as an educational display for the lifecycle of whitebait. Their work has also been featured in parks and walkways in Whakatane, as well as displays for The Kiwi Trust and Matata Wetlands. They are both active members of Nga Tapuwae-o-Taneatua Tramping Club. Mr and Mrs Slade have been key instigators of a project to re-establish native bush and a two kilometre long scenic walk in the strip of land between Wainui Road and the adjacent river.