Celebrating Māori excellence in the New Year’s Honours List.
Newly appointed Dame Ingrid Collins.
Thirty-five of those celebrated in the 2025 New Year’s Honours List identify as Māori, contributing to governance, education, health, language, art, and cultural revitalisation.
Dame Ingrid Collins (Ngāti Porou) has been recognised for her extraordinary leadership in Māori, business, and health governance, strengthening communities across Tairāwhiti East Coast for more than 50 years. A founding member of the Federation of Māori Authorities, she has championed sustainability and innovation in Māori land development, earning international recognition through initiatives such as Whāngārā Farms’ partnership with McDonald’s flagship farmers’ scheme in 2018.
Reflecting on her 18 years as chair of Whāngārā Farms, she highlighted the importance of whakapapa: “Whakapapa, our family bloodlines and lineage, will be the reason Whāngārā Farms endures centuries into the future.”
Dame Ingrid also made a significant impact in health governance, serving as chair of the Tairāwhiti District Health Board and co-founding Three Rivers Medical, the largest medical centre in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa, where she led efforts to improve healthcare access and outcomes for her community.
Her leadership extended beyond governance into cultural and economic development, including the establishment of Te Ara Tipuna, a 500km trail traversing the rohe of Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāi Tai ki Tōrere, and Whakatōhea ki Ōpōtiki.
Collins described the trail as “an educational journey for people ... showing what we have on this coast. And, of course, it’s the best coast in the whole country.”
Albert Puhirake Ihaka, Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Albert Puhirake Ihaka (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa) – awarded an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit – has been a steadfast advocate for Māori and governance. As chair of the Otamataha Trust, he played a pivotal role in the development of Tauranga’s civic precinct, Te Manawataki o Te Papa, ensuring it reflected the cultural and historical significance of the land. His governance has spanned decades, from Waitangi Tribunal Treaty claims to fostering Māori-Council partnerships.
Anne Fitisemanu, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Anne Fitisemanu and Heke-Turoa Huata (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Porou) have empowered Māori and Pacific communities through leadership, education, and development. Fitisemanu, as chief executive of TupuToa, facilitated corporate pathways for more than 1000 Māori and Pacific graduates. Huata, a leader in Te Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori education, has championed language and cultural learning for decades, advancing opportunities across Hawke’s Bay and beyond.
Christine Panapa (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāti Tahu, Ngāti Whaoa, Ngāti Pikiao), Shelley Katae (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Porou), Tania Mateohorere-Carole Pouwhare (Ngāi Tūhoe), and Craig Wells (Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa, Ngāi Takoto, Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kuri, Ngāpuhi) were also recognised for their contributions to Māori business and community development.
Panapa has driven housing and cultural initiatives such as Te Taumata O Kupe. Katae has created opportunities for Māori and Pacific families to own homes and access employment in Tāmaki Makaurau. Pouwhare co-founded Amotai, opening procurement opportunities for Māori and Pacific businesses, while Wells has fostered productivity and inclusive employment through iwi-led initiatives in Northland.
Fred Graham, Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Among other Māori honoured, visionary artist Fred Graham (Ngāti Koroki Kahukura) was named a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Involved in New Zealand art since the 1950s, he is renowned for blending Māori mythology and modern expression.
Dr Makarena Dudley’s (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu) work in dementia care and Professor Rawinia Higgins’ (Ngāi Tūhoe) advocacy for revitalising te reo Māori also earned recognition.
Peter Allen (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Tamatea, Kāi Tahu ki te Waipounamu), a passionate advocate for tangata whaikaha Māori, has empowered disabled communities through his leadership in Enabling Good Lives and Te Ao Māori initiatives.
Producers Matthew Metcalfe and Robin Scholes’ work in film was acknowledged – both championing Māori stories on the big screen. Metcalfe’s films, including The Dead Lands and Whina, highlight Māori culture while fostering international collaborations. Scholes, with a career spanning five decades, has mentored Māori screen talent and ensured authentic representation in films such as Crooked Earth and Mahana, leaving a lasting legacy for New Zealand’s screen industry.
For a full list of recipients of the New Year 2025 Honours List, please see here.
