Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Long time supporter of the Methodist church and Pasifika community Joshua Robertson - Namulau’ulu Taotua Leaoa Joshua James Potoa'e Robertson - was recognised for his services to the Pacific community.

Joshua 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.

Joshua has been a Pacific leader in the Taranaki region since 2003. 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. Joshua 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. Joshua 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.

Joshua’s wife, Itamua Muaiao'omalo Mataiva Robertson, was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2021 for services to women, youth and the Pacific community

Mataiva was elected General Secretary of the Samoan Synod (Sinoti Samoa) of the Methodist Church of New Zealand from 2012 to 2019, the first woman to hold the role.

During this time, Mataiva set up the Social Issues Committee and, through the Puna’oa o le Soifua Manuia Trust, has led the delivery of family violence and suicide prevention training workshops throughout the Sinoti Samoa regions. From 2016 until 2022, she was elected as World General Secretary of the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women (WFMUCW).

Mataiva was National President of the New Zealand Methodist Women’s Fellowship from 2010 to 2012. She has worked towards the establishment of a National Samoan Women’s Centre, with a property being purchased in 2019 for this purpose. She chairs the Vaimoana Pasifika Charitable Trust in Taranaki, initiating the annual Taranaki Pasifika Day festival and helping develop the Taranaki Māori and Pasifika Trade Training Scheme. She helped organise the Samoan Methodist Youth National Education Expo in 2010, has coordinated Pasifika youth programmes, and is a member of various trusts disbursing education scholarships. Through the Response Trust based in Wellington, Mataiva has planned and travelled to Samoa to install water supply systems and provide practical techniques for disaster mitigation, setting up a plant nursery and hurricane protection systems.

Honorary Queens Service Medal

Falanisesi Fusitu'a Hafoka has been a leader and Minister in the Tongan community since 2012. She is a Lay Preacher and Sunday School teacher with the Auckland Manukau Tongan Parish.

As an ordained Deacon of the Methodist Church New Zealand, she works tirelessly for the Tongan elderly and disabled community groups, visiting homes to ensure they are connected and that their needs are supported. Since 2012 she has been a chaplain for schools under the Church Education Commission Life Walk, providing guidance for children as well as spiritual guidance and education to members of the community, bridging and supporting an understanding of Tongan culture, language and heritage.

Falanisesi has supported visa applicants and overstayers, offering assistance with resumes and work opportunities and assisting the community with the Glen Innes Advice Bureau since 2018. She has been a teacher in New Zealand and in Tonga and has worked with various South Auckland schools. She founded the elderly Tongan group, which focused on social engagement, wellbeing, and social enterprise and to provide a platform for vulnerable groups during the Covid-19 pandemic.