Included in the New Zealand Order of Merit appointments are:
CNZM (Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit):
FUNG, Mrs Esther Frances, ONZM
For services to the Chinese community
Mrs Esther Fung is a leading senior elder of the Chinese New Zealand community and, at 94, continues to be a voice for the community and its future.
Mrs Fung was involved in government consultation for a reconciliation package following the poll tax apology in 2002, which led to formation of the Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust to support Chinese New Zealand heritage and culture. She was an inaugural Trustee from 2004 to 2008 and served as Trustee again from 2011 to 2017. She was key in guiding the Trust’s early direction to ensure support for future generations of Chinese New Zealanders. She supported the Trust’s commissioning of several histories of New Zealand’s Chinese community. She has remained a member of the New Zealand Chinese Association (NZCA) since the mid-1980s. She was a guiding force on NZCA’s Ventnor memorial project, unveiled in Hokianga in 2021, and has contributed to the current development of a historical website Te Hekenga Taikoa, telling Chinese New Zealanders’ stories. She has been Secretary of the Wellington Chinese Garden Society since 2003 and became Patron in 2023. Mrs Fung has been pivotal to keeping this project on the Wellington City Council’s agenda for more than 20 years in the face of waterfront redevelopment challenges.
LUEY, Mr Kai-Shek (Kai), QSM
For services to the Chinese community
Mr Kai Luey was President of the New Zealand Chinese Association (NZCA) from 2005 to 2008, serving as Immediate Past President until 2010.
Mr Luey remained Chairman of the Auckland branch of the NZCA until 2011. He organised ‘Going Bananas’ conferences in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2014, bringing together Chinese keynote speakers from diverse fields to celebrate the stories and profile of New Zealand Chinese. He helped establish the Leadership Development Conference (LDC) and Youth Leadership Camp (YLC) for young New Zealand Chinese to develop leadership and communication skills, running bi-annually since 2007. He joined the Auckland Chinese Community Centre Committee in 2001, serving as Treasurer from 2007 to 2009 and again in 2012/2013, Deputy Chairman, and as Chairman from 2013 to 2023. With the Community Centre, he organised 16 Chinese New Year Festival and Market Days and has helped develop the organisation into one of the largest Chinese community groups with sporting, cultural and social facilities with a sound financial foundation. He became involved with the Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust in 2004, serving as a Trustee until 2011, from 2014 to 2021, and as Chair from 2017 to 2021. Mr Luey was a Trustee of Auckland Regional Migrant Services from 2008 to 2013 and co-chaired the Auckland Chinese Garden Steering Committee from 2009 to 2018.
TSUI, Mrs Kennie
For services to the environment and governance
Mrs Kennie Tsui is a chemical and environment engineer, and a qualified International Expert on Greenhouse Gas Inventory.
Mrs Tsui was nominated as the New Zealand International Expert for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on Greenhouse Gas Inventory and contributes to several processes mandated by the United Nations, on behalf of New Zealand. She was appointed as the Deputy President of Engineering New Zealand, the first Asian woman on the Board in its 110-year history. She has had a significant role as Chair of Engineering New Zealand’s Wellington Branch, leading the organisation in hosting more than 30 events annually. She is the Chief Executive of New Zealand Geothermal Association (NZGA), which represents New Zealand’s geothermal community through promotion of legacy, sustainability and the benefits to New Zealand. NZGA facilitates projects across the geothermal sector to coordinate parties and other industries, advising the government on New Zealand’s geothermal potential. She has been a Global Board Member of the USA Geothermal Resources Council since 2021, and Chair of the International Partnership of Geothermal Technologies, an organisation which connects the geothermal community and champions geothermal energy globally, and consists of New Zealand, Australia, Iceland, Switzerland and the United States. Mrs Tsui is a Director of the Wellington Cable Car, Venture Taranaki and the President of the Scots College Parents Association.
TURNER, Dr Keith Sharman
For services to the electricity industry
Dr Keith Turner has made a significant contribution to the electricity industry over 55 years and has also contributed to governance.
Dr Turner was the founding Chief Executive of Meridian Energy, established in 1998, and served until 2008. As Chief Executive he was instrumental in the establishment of the Mākara windfarm in 2009. Between 1983 and 1998 he held various positions with DesignPower and the former New Zealand Electricity Department and served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand. He was involved in the reform of the electricity industry, serving as a member of the Transpower Establishment Board, an M-Co founding director, a member of the Contact Energy Establishment Team, and a member of the Market Surveillance Committee. As Chair of Fisher and Paykel Appliances from 2010 to 2019, he guided the company through challenging years. He is a member of the New South Wales State EnergyCo Board, Chair of Napier-based Kwetta Technologies which builds networks of integrated ultra-fast EV chargers, and served as Chair of DamWatch from 1999 to 2008 and again from 2016 to 2022. Dr Turner has been the Chair of Transpower New Zealand since 2022.
ONZM (Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit):
SHAW, Mr Anthony John (Tony)
For services to people with intellectual disabilities and the community
Mr Tony Shaw has held a range of leadership roles within IHC since the 1980s.
Mr Shaw began his legal career in 1980 in Timaru, developing advocacy, leadership and advisory skills. He joined the Committee of the IHC South Canterbury Branch in 1982 and went on to join the IHC New Zealand Inc. Board in 1998, serving as New Zealand President from 2003 to 2005. He rejoined the National Board of IHC in 2019 and has been Chair since 2020, helping guide the organisation’s 4,000 people with intellectual disabilities and 4,000 support staff through the COVID-19 pandemic. He has held leadership roles on related boards, including the IHC Foundation Charitable Trust, Accessible Properties New Zealand, IDEA Services and the Donald Beasley Institute Trust. In 2005, he was made a Life Member of the IHC, one of only 11 people to receive this distinction. In his local community, he has been involved in training and mentoring young legal and business professionals through the Law Society and South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. He acted as MC for the Timaru Rotary Club’s Celebrity Auction from 2001 to 2013, which raised between $20,000 and $65,000 each year. Mr Shaw received a Forsyth Barr Commendation Award at the 2022 South Canterbury Ara Business Excellence Awards.
WILKINSON, Dr Bryce Derek
For services to economics
Dr Bryce Wilkinson is one of New Zealand’s leading economists, who has contributed significantly to public policy formation.
Dr Wilkinson contributed to The Treasury’s Economic Management briefing in 1984 as then director of The Treasury’s Economics I Division. He was a consultant on public policy issues for the Business Roundtable think tank from 1997 to 2010 and has consulted similarly for The New Zealand Initiative since 2012. He contributed to three government taskforces, namely the Regulatory Responsibility Taskforce, the ACC Stocktake Steering Group, and the 2025 Taskforce. He has published and presented on a wide range of public policy topics throughout his career, including proposals for improving fiscal discipline and regulatory quality. He worked in the financial services sector from 1985 to 1997, contributing to macro-economic assessments and financial research, including applying portfolio optimisation theory in New Zealand, the adoption of new analytical tools, capital markets development, and establishing New Zealand’s first government bond and money market return indices. Dr Wilkinson has been a New Zealand Harkness Fellow, was President of the New Zealand Law and Economics Association from 2003 to 2005, is a Fellow of that association, and is a member of the editorial board of the United Kingdom Journal ‘Economic Affairs’.
MNZM (Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit):
BAILEY, Mr Dale Cameron
For services to education
Mr Dale Bailey’s career in education has spanned 38 years, contributing to learners in New Zealand receiving education to which they are entitled.
Mr Bailey dedicated 14 years to Awatapu College, holding various positions, including Head of Geography, Curriculum Coordinator, and a Teacher Librarian. At the Education Review Office, he served as a Review Officer, Senior Review Officer and National Manager for Review Services, before being appointed as the Northern Deputy Chief Review Officer. As Area Manager for the Northern region with Careers New Zealand, he supported staff in the Northern teams during a restructure. He was the driver and project sponsor of The Career Development Benchmarks in 2012, a suite of self-review tools that designed to raise the quality of career development in New Zealand. He has been the Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive of the Springboard Trust since 2020 and has focused on equity in education, and the relationship between education and social and economic development. In 2022 he was elected Chair of SPELD New Zealand, the largest provider of support for people with dyslexia and other learning disabilities, in New Zealand. Mr Bailey formed Capable Auckland which aimed to link organisations in the education to employment space to collaborate, resulting in significant contribution to Auckland Council careers and the Auckland Plan.
BELL, Mrs Judith Anne
For services to music education
Mrs Judith Bell is a multi-instrumentalist and award-winning music educator who has made significant contributions in Canterbury and nationally to music education.
Mrs Bell was the specialist music teacher at Chisnallwood Intermediate from 1999 to 2021, where she was an influence behind the school’s national reputation for music excellence, running numerous courses from theory to sound technology and supporting the schools’ local and national award-winning bands, choir and orchestra. Outside of Chisnallwood, she has held a range of volunteer roles with music organisations and initiatives. She co-chaired Music Education Canterbury since 2011 and has been co-artistic director of annual children’s music festival Strum, Strike and Blow since 2013. She was director of the Christchurch Big Band Festival from 2011 to 2021 and was appointed Artistic Director in 2023. She helped establish and has chaired the Christchurch Jazz Foundation Trust since inception in 2015, which oversees the Big Band Festival and other jazz events. Now a Life Member, she was on the national Board of Music Education New Zealand Aotearoa (MENZA) from 2014 to 2022 and wrote the Kiwicorder resource for primary teachers in 2023. She co-chaired Music19, a national music education conference held in Christchurch in 2019. Mrs Bell has presented music papers and workshops internationally at conferences in a range of countries.
HODDER, Mr David Warwick
For services to outdoor recreation and conservation
Mr David Hodder has been involved with the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (NZDA) in various capacities since the late 1960s.
Mr Hodder became a branch member in 1971, was Vice President of the Hawke’s Bay branch from 1978 to 1981, and was a member of the National Executive for 24 years until 2005. He served as Vice President from 1984, then President from 1989 to 1992, and in 2011 was made a Life Member. He was a member of the Himalayan Tahr Control Plan Advisory Committee from 1993 to 2018 and a member of the Wapiti Crown Herd Management Committee. He became Chairperson of a heli-hunting sub-committee in 2010 when the Department of Conservation (DOC) allowed aerial access for hunting of chamois and tahr. He has been a committed volunteer over 50 years from the grass roots level to advising DOC and holding positions on conservation boards, research committees and implementation groups. He has been a keen advocate and negotiator for public access. He has helped organise and run hunter training programme HUNTS and conservation projects, and provided hands-on assistance with trap lines, hut and track maintenance, and formal animal control programmes. Mr Hodder has helped with Search and Rescue operations and provided forecast and message relaying services with mountain radio.
SMITH, Dr Hilary Anne
For services to linguistics and the community
Dr Hilary Smith has been involved with Volunteer Service Abroad Te Tuāo Tāwāhi (VSA) for more than 40 years.
Dr Smith made contributions for more than seven years as a VSA teacher and teacher educator in Tonga, Papua New Guinea, and Laos. She served as the Chair of the VSA Council between 1998 and 2007, has been a member of the VSA Appointments Panel, and has chaired local interest groups in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington and Te Papaiōea Palmerston North. She was President of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages Aotearoa New Zealand between 2008 and 2015, currently Chairs Applied Linguistics in Aotearoa New Zealand (ALANZ), and co-convenes the Languages Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand. Through her career in applied linguistics, she has supported numerous countries as a teacher and leader; these include Nepal, Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Fiji. Dr Smith has been working with the Gamilaraay Aboriginal community in New South Wales, Australia to support Gamilaraay language revival, resulting in the production of resources including multimedia materials and the first bilingual early reading books.
STYLES, Mr Michael Leslie Burton (Mike)
For services to people with dyslexia and education
Mr Mike Styles has worked to improve the lives of individuals with dyslexia and promoted neurodiversity acceptance since the mid-2010s.
Mr Styles has been a driving force behind numerous initiatives aimed at improving dyslexia education and support systems in New Zealand. He has delivered workshops, seminars and speaking engagements at local, national and international levels. He led a major national research project to investigate how dyslexia impacts learners in tertiary education and developed a support programme for tertiary learners. He led a team from government agencies and education organisations to implement the Dyslexia Friendly Quality Mark, with many tertiary education organisations adopting the standards since launch. He has conducted research on the rate of dyslexia in NEETs (Young people Not in Education, Employment or Training) and in prison inmates. He developed a process to screen apprentices with dyslexia/neurodiversity who were unable to pass their registration exams and provide them with an alternative way of securing their registration, assisting more than 250 young people since 2019. He co-established the Dyslexia/Neurodiversity Community of Practice in 2021, a forum of more than 300 educators who support learners with dyslexia. He self-published the book “Congratulations – You Have Dyslexia! Great Minds Think Differently”. Mr Styles joined the Board of Trustees of Kāpiti Youth Support in 2019.
King's Service Medal (KSM):
ARGYLE, Mr Alister David
For services to the community
Mr Alister Argyle has supported numerous community organisations in Ashburton and the Canterbury region as a lawyer and in governance roles.
Mr Argyle began his career as a practicing solicitor in Ashburton in 1977, since which time he has undertaken extensive pro-bono work for charitable trusts, sports organisations and community groups. He has offered his legal expertise and business acumen on many organisations’ boards and committees, including the Ashburton Community Water Trust, Ashburton Marriage Guidance Service, Ashburton College Alumni Charitable Trust, Mid-Canterbury Choir Trust, and Mid-Canterbury Cricket Association. As a Trustee of the Advance Ashburton Community Foundation, he led a review of its trust deed. In 2016, he helped to establish the Trott’s Garden Charitable Trust, ensuring the Garden of International Significance was held by the community. He has served as Honorary Solicitor for many other incorporated societies, including Birthright Canterbury. He served on the Cancer Society’s Canterbury-West Coast Executive Committee from 2005 to 2024, helping it to establish a new $22 million facility and expand its workforce, as well as the Ashburton Cancer Support Group. Mr Argyle served on the Cancer Society’s National Board from 2016 to 2023, including a three-year term as its National President.
COURTNEY, Mr Shannel Peter
For services to conservation and choral music
Mr Shannel Courtney has made a significant contribution to the conservation of New Zealand’s indigenous plants since the 1980s.
Mr Courtney worked at the Department of Conservation and its predecessors for almost 40 years, based in the Marlborough, Nelson and Tasman regions. Over that time, he helped to establish an herbarium for the top of the South Island, and worked with Wakatū Incorporation to establish a library of plants indigenous to the rohe of its iwi. He has collaborated on published papers to formally name 11 species and five subspecies, discovered several new species of native flora, and provided oversight to many key books written on indigenous biodiversity. In 1989 he co-founded the Nelson Botanical Society and has been an active committee member until the present. He leads several day trips and camps for the Society each year and was recently made a Life Member. In 2008, he was awarded the Loder Cup, New Zealand’s most prestigious conservation award, in recognition of his professional and personal commitment to protecting threatened indigenous plant life. Since the early 2000s, he has also led the Mosaic World Choir, organising community choir events, workshops and performances around the region. Mr Courtney received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network in 2024.
JOHNSON, Mr Jeremy Wiremu Alexander
For services to the Anglican Church and the LGBTQI+ community
Mr Jeremy Johnson is a lawyer who has contributed his time to the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia and Christ’s College.
Mr Johnson is Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese of Waiapu and was Vice-Chancellor and Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch from 2008 to 2020. He advised on matters such as the Christchurch earthquakes and rebuild and same-sex marriage legislation. He was a key figure in the Church’s effort to pass church law to allow blessings of same-sex marriage. He has served as Deputy Legal Advisor to the New Zealand Church. He has been President of the Christ’s College Old Boy’s Association, where he established the College Tuis, a group for LGBTQI+ former students. He has been involved with the Association since finishing at the school in 2002, serving in a variety of positions. He was appointed as a Fellow of the school’s Board of Governors in 2017. He is a Fellow of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Mr Johnson recently retired after five years as Chair of the New Zealand String Quartet Trust and is a Trustee of the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation.
LOCKINGTON, Mrs Moira Catherine
For services to the community
Mrs Moira Lockington has been involved with various organisations and community groups in the Buller District for more than 50 years.
Mrs Lockington has been involved with the Reefton Sacred Heart Parish for more than 50 years, both as a member and having played the organ for Sunday Mass for 15 years. She has also been a member of the church cleaning group and the rosters for organising flowers and communion to the sick. She has been involved with fundraising efforts for the Church. With St Vincent de Paul she has helped distribute food parcels, wood and coal amongst the community. She has been involved with Buller Council-funded programmes such as tree planting and has engaged with the Council for better and accessible footpaths around the town centre. She was instrumental in initiating the upgrade of the Reefton heated community swimming pool and has been vocal in the upgrade of the local hospital. She bakes homemade treats for those living on their own and distributes produce from her garden to those in need. Mrs Lockington has been involved with the Plunket Society, Reefton Tennis Club and the Reefton Toy Library.
RICHMOND, Mr David Malcolm James
For services to sport, particularly athletics and cricket
Mr David Richmond (Ngāi Tahu) has been involved with sport, particularly athletics and cricket at local, regional, and national levels for more than 50 years.
Mr Richmond first volunteered on the Presbyterian Harrier and Athletics Club Committee from 1967 to 1971, including a year as Secretary. In 1981, he was on the steering committee which merged the club with two others, forming the Hill City Athletics Club (now Hill City-University). He served as Club Captain, President from 1991 to 1993, and as Patron since 2008. He has been involved with Athletics Otago since 1981, serving as a Handicapper, Selector and as President from 1991 to 1994 and 2012 to 2016. He represented Otago as an Athletics New Zealand Councillor from 1991 to 1994 and served on the organisation’s Board of Directors from 1994 to 1999. In 1992 he lobbied for Dunedin to host the National Road Relay Championship, creating the course and chairing the organising committee. He organised the 2004 Secondary Schools National Cross Country in Dunedin. He coached Tokomairiro High School’s athletic, cross country, rugby and cricket teams from 1976 and Bayfield High School teams from 1986. He has been Honorary Statistician for the Otago Cricket Association for more than 30 years. Mr Richmond is a Life Member of Athletics Otago and Hill City-University Athletics Club.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 - Quality Education.
