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More than 40 Aucklanders have been recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours, with educators, health leaders, sports administrators, community advocates, artists and business figures among those receiving New Zealand’s highest honours.
Among the highest honours were a damehood for education expert Professor Elizabeth Rata and a knighthood for health leader Dr Paul Baker, while dozens of others were recognised for their contributions to fields including maternal health, Māori education, journalism, governance, sport, philanthropy and the arts.
Included those recognised was North Shore hockey stalwart Brent Miller, whose contribution to the sport includes serving as deputy chair of the Hibiscus Hockey Trust.
Among those recognised in this year’s honours is Gary Diprose, founder of the Springboard charitable trust, which purchased Sheepworld in 2021.
Diprose was awarded Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to youth.
He established the Springboard charitable trust in 2002 to support vulnerable young people in the Warkworth area.
Diprose grew Springboard from an alternative education programme into a youth support organisation providing education, mentoring, social work and employment pathways for vulnerable young people.
The honours list includes leaders in education, health, law, sport, the arts and public service, with recipients ranging from internationally recognised academics and medical specialists to long-serving volunteers and community champions whose work has had a lasting impact across Auckland and New Zealand.
The full list of Auckland-based recipients are as follows:
Dame Companion of the said Order:
Professor Elizabeth Mary Rata, of Auckland. For services to education.
Knights Companion of the said Order:
Dr Paul Andrew Baker, of Auckland. For services to health.
Companions of the said Order:
Professor Caroline Anne Crowther, of Auckland. For services to maternal and perinatal health.
Dr James Alfred Farmer, KC, of Auckland. For services to the law.
Miss Beatrice Roini Liua Faumuinā, ONZM, of Auckland. For services to sport and governance.
Emeritus Professor Pare Areta Keiha, QSO, of Auckland. For services to Māori and education.
Mr Bryan William Mogridge, ONZM, of Auckland. For services to children’s health, governance and philanthropy.
Ms Chloe Smith, of Auckland. For services to the screen industry.
Mr Peter John Thompson, of Auckland. For services to philanthropy and rugby.
Officers of the said Order:
Mr Douglas Seymour Alderslade, of Auckland. For services to the racing industry.
Miss Suzannah Wilson Bates, of Auckland. For services to cricket and basketball.
Mr Evan Welch Davies, of Auckland. For services to business and governance.
Ms Margaret Ruth Davy, of Auckland. For services to nursing and women’s health.
Mr Trevor David Janes, of Auckland. For services to business and public sector governance.
Mr Samuel Robert Johnson, of Auckland. For services to the community and youth.
Dr Yvonne Marie LeFort, of Auckland. For services to Breastfeeding Medicine.
Mr Garry John Macdonald, of Auckland. For services to wastewater engineering.
Mrs Susan Louise Nolan, of Auckland. For services to drug testing and forensic toxicology.
Mr Stephen John Parker, of Auckland. For services to governance and the community.
Mr Barry John Soper, of Auckland. For services to journalism.
Mr Murray Neville Thom, of Auckland. For services to the arts and philanthropy.
Ms Sandra Dawn Thompson, of Auckland. For services to governance, education and children.
Mrs Sharon Mary Williamson, of Auckland. For services to hockey.
Members of the said Order:
Dr Lesley Ansell, of Auckland. For services to midwifery.
Mr Daniel Gerard Buckingham, of Auckland. For services to people with disabilities and wheelchair rugby.
Mr Gary William Diprose, of Auckland. For services to youth.
Professor Richard George Douglas, of Auckland. For services to rhinology.
Mr Mark David Fisher, of Auckland. For services to sexual health, particularly people living with HIV.
Mr Patrick George John Gale, of Auckland. For services to education.
Miss Fane Fusipongi Ketu’u, JP, of Auckland. For services to Tongan language education.
Ms Lisa Helen Kingi, of Auckland. For services to rugby, particularly player welfare.
Dr Shuchi Tarun Kothari, of Auckland. For services to the screen industry.
Ms Elizabeth Anne Lee, of Auckland. For services to refugees, migrants and education.
Mrs Filomena Loheni, of Auckland. For services to Pacific fashion.
Ms Shirley Anne Mackay, of Auckland. For services to swimming.
Mrs Elizabeth Jane Maire, of Auckland. For services to conservation and education.
Mrs Terese Karen Marr, of Auckland. For services to ADHD support and philanthropy.
Mr Alan Stuart McIntyre, JP, of Auckland. For services to education.
Mrs Tofa Robertina O’Halloran, of Auckland. For services to education and the Niuean community.
Leota Pauga Esitone Pauga, of Auckland. For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
Mr Morris Charles Pita, of Auckland. For services to governance, business and Māori.
Mr Russell Owen Smith, of Auckland. For services to sexual violence prevention.
Mr John Trevor Sparling, of Auckland. For services to cricket.
Dr Alison Claire Talmage, of Auckland. For services to music therapy and seniors.
Ms Jan Althea Tonkin, of Auckland. For services to the business events sector.
Mrs Vania Nive Hannah Wolfgramm, of Auckland. For services to rugby.
The King’s Service Order
Companions of the said Order:
The Honourable Paul Joseph Davison, KC, of Auckland. For services to public service and the law.
Ms Carolyn Doreen Tremain, of Auckland. For services to the Public Service.
The King’s Service Medal
Mrs Barbara Kay Astill, JP, of Auckland. For services to women, the community and governance.
Mr Brent Le Roy Miller, of Auckland. For services to hockey.
Mr John Patrick Noble, of Auckland. For services to residential care.
Mrs Patricia Mary Noble, of Auckland. For services to residential care.
Mr William Wynyard Rayner, of Auckland. For services to seniors and cultural heritage.
Dr Shanthi Selvakumar, of Auckland. For services to migrant and refugee communities.
