Member of NZ Order of Merit

This year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours acknowledges the achievements of Denise Sheat with the Award of Member of the NZ Order of Merit.

Denise is a whānau member of Te Taumutu Rūnanga and has worked within the education sector for many years. This award is given to those who have achieved meritorious service and are distinguished by their eminence, talents, and contributions to the people of New Zealand. There is no doubt that Denise’s award is a well-deserved recognition of the very considerable assistance that Denise has given to people over the years. Denise has worked hard to improve bi-cultural relationships.

Congratulations to Denise and her whānau for all she has done and for the receipt of this recognition.

Denise Sheat.

Denise Sheat.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Constable Danny Farrell, the grandson of Maria Johnson (Auntie Ake), Teihoka whānau who graduated from The Royal New Zealand Police College in December 2014. He is now stationed in Wellington Central. Danny was proud to wear the Teihoka Korowai on his graduation day.

Danny Farrell (Teihoka)

Danny at his graduation.

Congratulations also to siblings Ngawhatuhuia and Hitaua Arahanga-Doyle have achieved incredible milestones. Both were selected to play for the New Zealand Māori Hockey team at the 2015 International Oceania Tournament in Napier. Ngawhatuhuia has been a New Zealand Māori representative for almost 10 years and over the last four years she has been captain.

Prior to the tournament, Ngawhatuhuia had been playing professional hockey in Singapore and immediately after the 2015 International Oceania Tournament in Napier she returned to Perth and took-up a second year of professional hockey as goalie and captain.

Hitaua completed a scholarship at the University of Cologne in Germany and in May graduated from Otago University with a double degree in Commerce and Psychology.

Both Ngawhatuhuia and Hitaua are very proud of their whakapapa to Taumutu and Ōtākou. They dearly appreciate the support they have received from their rūnaka, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and whānau.

Ngawhatuhuia and Hitaua Arahanga-Doyle.

Ngawhatuhuia and Hitaua Arahanga-Doyle.