Recognition of our Church Members

QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST

AYERS, Mr David Lindsay NZ Member of Order of Merit - MNZM For services to local government and the community.

Mr David Ayers has contributed more than 40 years to his local community and local government in the wider Canterbury region.

Mr Ayers worked in local government for 36 years. He was a councillor for 21 years, Chair of the Rangiora Ward Advisory Board for six years, and Mayor of the Waimakariri District Council from 2010 to 2019. He led Waimakariri’s recovery operations and planning after the 2010 and 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. Local Government New Zealand awarded the Council an ‘AA’ rating during its Excellence Programme assessment, one of only two councils in the country to receive such a grade, largely due to his leadership. He was Deputy Chair of the Greater Christchurch Partnership from 2013 to 2019, with responsibilities that included developing a sub-regional growth strategy. He has served numerous community organisations, including the Waimakariri Community Arts Council, North Canterbury Radio Trust, Rangiora Landmarks, Enterprise North Canterbury, Peer Support Trust of New Zealand, and Chair of the Canterbury Museum Trust Board. He was Chair of the Waimakariri Art Collection Trust and a foundation member of Rangiora Community Watch. Mr Ayers has been active with the Methodist Church of New Zealand, including 40 years with his local parish and membership of the national Board of Administration.

NUKU, Reverend Hiueni. QSM. For services to Tongan and Pacific communities. 

Reverend Hiueni Nuku has been Chair of the Wellington Tonga Leaders’ Council since 2015 and previously was Treasurer from 2012.

The Council has led Tongan language revitalization in Wellington, undertaking Tongan Language Week activities, and developing bilingual books in Tongan and English for early childhood education. Through the Council Reverend Nuku has been involved with Whānau Ora projects and helped secure a contract with Pacific Futures Limited for five years to deliver health, housing and employment projects with the Tongan community in the Wellington region. He played a key role in establishing the Tongan Educational Expo in 2016. He was previously involved in supporting Laulotaha Study Hub between 2008 and 2015 and was involved in Pacific Awhina Community Cluster Study Hub for Tongan high school students from 2013 to 2015. He had oversight over the first Tonga Youth Awards in 2017, which recognised top Tongan students in academia, sports, and leadership. He initiated the celebration of Tonga Day in Wellington in 2017. He has strong connections to the Pacific community nationwide through his involvement across several organisations and Boards, including Ministerial appointments, the Methodist New Zealand Council of Conference and Tu Ora Compass Health. Reverend Nuku has been Parish Superintendent for Lower Hutt Tongan Parish (Ututa’u) and Tawa Union Church since 2009.

NEW YEAR'S HONOURS LIST

ROBERTSON, Namulau’ulu Taotua Leaoa Joshua James Potoa'e. NZ Member of Order of Merit - MNZM. For services to the Pacific community.

Namulau’ulu Taotua Leaoa Joshua Robertson has been a Pacific leader in the Taranaki region since 2003.

Mr Robertson has been a member of the Sinoti Samoa Methodist Church of New Zealand for more than 20 years, holding various positions including Convenor of Sinoti Samoa property advisory committee and member of the business committee. He is the President of the New Zealand Lay Preachers Association and under his leadership membership numbers have increased significantly, particularly of Pacific lay preachers. In 2009 he helped revive the Taranaki Vaimoana Pasifika Charitable Trust, which has evolved into a community trust supporting Pacific communities in sectors across justice, education, social, health, sports and Pacific language and culture. He helps organise the annual Taranaki Pasifika Day Festival. He was instrumental in organising successful Pacific contracts with Aere Tai Pacific Midland Collective to deliver Whānau Ora assistance for Pacific families. He has coordinated and helped distribute food and hygiene packs to Pasifika households and seasonal workers in the Taranaki region, working with local iwi, government agencies and non-government organisations. He co-created a Pasifika health programme for the community during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Mr Robertson was instrumental in an application to MBIE’s Regional Fund for the renovation of the New Plymouth Samoan Methodist Church and worked with the contractors to employ local Pacific workers.