King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours 2023

Trustees and staff of Foundation North wish to congratulate our Kaumātua Kevin Prime (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua, Tainui), who has been named in the King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours 2023. This most recent honour, Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM), recognises Kevin’s fifty-year contribution to Māori, the environment and health – and adds to his ONZM and MBE bestowed in 2016 and 1991 respectively.

Our CEO, Peter Tynan, commented, “Since 2001, when Kevin was appointed to the board of the (then) ASB Community Trust, he has been a quiet but transformational force, not just for the Foundation but within philanthropy in Aotearoa. Matua Kevin is a leader and taonga whose humility prevents him from seeking out plaudits or speaking of his own achievements – rather it comes more naturally and comfortably to him to recognise and whakamana others. This is just one of the qualities we admire in Kevin, and we are forever grateful and humbled to have him as our Kaumātua”.

In tautoko of this sentiment, we mihi to all of those named in Monday’s announcement, and would like to take this opportunity to highlight the achievements of other recipients with whom the Foundation has a connection.

• Jo Brosnahan, QSO, has been recognised as Dame Companion (DNZM) for services to governance and business. Founder of Pūmanawa Kaiārahi o Aotearoa Leadership New Zealand (LNZ), Jo paved the way for LNZ’s signature New Zealand Leadership Programme (NZLP) which has been supported by the Foundation since its inception twenty years ago.
  
• Professor Rochelle Constantine of the University of Auckland received the Order of New Zealand Merit (ONZM) for services to wildlife conservation and marine biology. A recipient of our Gulf Innovation Fund Together (G.I.F.T) initiative, Rochelle’s studies focus on the behaviour of megafauna such as whales and dolphins in the Hauraki Gulf.
  
• Tara Moala (Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Māhanga Hourua, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Paoa, Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa, Ngā Rauru) has been recognized as Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to the community and environment. Tara is Founder and Managing Director of Rākau Tautoko, a South Auckland-based social enterprise working to build empowerment and engagement in communities. Foundation North supports Rākau Tautoko’s innovative mahi in the community kai sovereignty space.
  

Congratulations to everyone.