Professor Tom Roa, Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Credit: Waikato Times
The 糖心Vlog is celebrating the achievements of a current professor and several alumni recognised in this year鈥檚 New Year Honours for their outstanding contributions across education, culture, sport, governance and community service.
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
(Ng膩ti Maniapoto, Waikato, Ng膩ti Apakura) has been recognised for services to M膩ori language and education.
For more than 50 years, Professor Roa has played a pivotal role in the revitalisation of te reo M膩ori and the advancement of tikanga M膩ori. A respected Tainui leader and Professor in Te Pua W膩nanga ki te Ao 鈥� Faculty of M膩ori and Indigenous Studies, he is internationally recognised for his work in M膩ori history and linguistics, translation and interpretation, and Indigenous language systems.
Professor Roa is an alumnus of the University, having completed a Master of Arts in 1997 and PhD in Applied Linguistics in 2016. He was a leader in the 1972 M膩ori Language Petition, which led to te reo M膩ori becoming an official language of New Zealand and the establishment of Te Wiki o te Reo M膩ori.
His service includes governance roles with Waikato-Tainui, Maniapoto and the Apakura Runanga Trust and in 2016, was appointed as a Crown member of the Waitangi Tribunal.
Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit
a Bachelor of Management Studies graduate, has been honoured for services to netball and artistic swimming, with more than 50 years of contributions as a player, umpire, sponsor, broadcaster, board member and chairperson.
is a Bachelor of Social Sciences alumnus who has been recognised for services to sport and health. He oversaw significant organisational change within Basketball New Zealand and has held governance roles across the health and rugby sectors.
is a Master of Management Studies alumnus and Distinguished Alumni awardee of the University recognised for services to business, governance and humanitarian aid. The charity that he founded, Kiwi K.A.R.E, has raised around $7 million in support of the people of Ukraine.
Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit
a Bachelor of Education alumnus of the University, has been recognised for his advocacy for disabled children and his commitment to equity within New Zealand鈥檚 education system.
is a Postgraduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching alumna and former theatre studies lecturer within Te Kura Toi School of Arts, who has dedicated over 20 years to the performing arts and education sectors in New Zealand and internationally. She is the founder of the Hamilton-based Carving in Ice Theatre and a recipient of the University's Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship programme.
Companion of the King鈥檚 Service Order
(Ng膩ti Awa, Ngai Te Rangi, Ng膩ti Maniapoto, T奴hourangi) is a Diploma of Teaching alumnus awarded for his contributions to M膩ori education, conservation and performing arts.
