- Hon Erica Stanford
Minister of Education Erica Stanford today recognises the significant achievements of those included in the King's Birthday 2024 Honours List, particularly those being celebrated for their services to education.
"This year's King's Birthday Honours recognises the commitment, dedication and passion that those who have been honoured have shown," Ms Stanford says.
Recipients being recognised include leaders in Te Reo Māori in Kohanga Reo, early childhood education and those who have provided exceptional leadership within their communities.
Those being honoured include Mrs Tere Gilbert (Ngāti Kahungunu Te Ati Awa, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Hauiti) who received the New Zealand Order of Merit for her work normalising the teaching of Te Reo Māori in early childhood education and involvement in Kohanga Reo over three decades.
Lorraine Mentz is made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education and philanthropy.
Ms Mentz Was co-founder and Chief Executive of the Springboard Trust for 13 years and worked to transform schools by developing individuals and strategic leadership, bringing together leaders from the education, private public and philanthropic sectors.
Leitualaalemalietoa Pavhi who was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her work to establish the first Niue bilingual until which opened in 2021 in Favona School, Auckland.
Ms Pavhi has worked not only in her school but has translated and peer reviewed for the Nui community, hosted a weekly radio show and has been a trustee for the Pasifika Festival at Tataki School.
Peter McNuer who has been awarded the Kings Service Medal for services to education and the community.
Mr McNeur was a member of the National Executive of the Rural Education and Activities Programme (Reap) and was Director of Reap Wairarapa from 1992 to 2023.
He initiated the Computers in Homes digital literacy project in 2011, helping families across the Wairarapa with school-aged children to gain access to digital technology.
I want to thank today's recipients of awards and all those across the education sector for the work that they do.
"Since becoming Minister of Education I have been privileged to see just how passionate our educators are, and I want to acknowledge the difference they make in the lives of the children, teachers and the communities they work with.
"Education changes lives and the impact these people have undoubtedly had, needs to be acknowledged and celebrated."
