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RNZ News
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
King's Birthday Honours: Dai Henwood, Tim Southee and Jude Dobson among those recognised
Clockwise from top left: Dr Maxine Ronald, Tim Southee, Ranjna Patel and Dai Henwood. Photo: RNZ / PhotoSport / Warner Brothers Discovery A total of 188 New Zealanders who have made their mark on New Zealand have been awarded for their services, in the King's Birthday Honours list released today. There are 88 women and 100 men drawn from a range of areas including: arts and media, business, community work, education, science, health and sport. There are six new knights and dames: community wellbeing advocate Ranjna Patel , plant scientist Emeritus Professor Alison Stewart and former equestrienne and spinal cord injury advocate Catriona Williams become dames. Former president of the Court of Appeal Mark Cooper KC (Ngāti Mahanga, Waikato-Tainui), Sistema Plastics founder and philanthropist Brendan Lindsay and Air Rarotonga founder and Cook Islands tourism advocate Ewen Smith are the new knights. In the entertainment field comedian Dai Henwood , children's entertainer Suzy Cato, food writer David Burton and TV host, author and fundraiser Jude Dobson are appointed Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit. In sport recently retired pace bowler Tim Southee, who is the Black Caps all-time leading international wicket-taker, Black Fern double Olympic gold medallist Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (Ngāpuhi, Mgāati-Porou and Ngāti Kahu); double Olympic gold medallist Ellesse Andrews (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu) and White Ferns captain Sophie Devine are among those honoured. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, left, and Ellesse Andrews. Photo: Supplied / Cultivate Sport / PhotoSport Former All Black Murray Mexted who has also been a commentator and mentor and sports governance expert Don McKinnon are also honoured. Prominent politicians include: former National Finance ministers Steven Joyce and Ruth Richardson, former assistant Speaker and Manawatū mayor Ian McKelvie, and former Labour list MP Dover Samuels (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kura, Ngāti Rēhia). Joyce and Richardson are made Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit, McKelvie is made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit and Samuels is appointed as a Companion of the King's Service Order. As well as Samuels, other well-known Māori honoured include: tikanga and mātauranga expert Dr Alishia Moeahu (Ngāti Awa, Ngā Tūhoe, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Hikaairo, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou); breast cancer expert Dr Maxine Ronald (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai); Waitangi National trust chairperson Pita Tipene (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Te Tārawa) and kaupapa waka advocate Joe Conrad (Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kuri, Ngāi Takoto, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Hauā) . Pacific recipents include Arthur Anae, Okesene Galo, and Annie Scoon while prominent figures from the Asian community honoured for their work are: Dr Ai Ling Tan, Panchanatham Narayanan and Santosh Prasad Bhandari. To be Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Ranjna Patel for services to ethnic communities, health and family violence prevention Emeritus Distinguished Professor Alison Stewart for services to plant science and the arable sector Catriona Ruth Williams for services to spinal cord injury research and equestrian sport To be Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Mark Leslie Smith Cooper, KC for services to the judiciary Brendan Jon Lindsay for services to business and philanthropy Ewan Francis Smith for services to Cook Islands business and tourism To be Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Catherine Joy Andersen for services to the music industry Wayne Robert Boyd for services to business, philanthropy and sport Professor George Charles Clifton for services to structural engineering Anthony Edwin Falkenstein for services to philanthropy and business education Steven Leonard Joyce for services as a Member of Parliament Donald Angus Mackinnon for services to sports governance Professor Emeritus Ian George Mayhew for services to the veterinary profession, especially equine medicine Dr David Edwin McKee for services to New Zealand Sign Language and the Deaf community William Charles Nathan for services to Māori Dr Lesley Kay Rameka for services to Māori and early childhood education Ruth Margaret Richardson for services as a Member of Parliament and to governance Dr Ai Ling Tan for services to gynaecology Dr Mark Greenslade Thomas for services to people living with HIV/AIDS and antibiotic research To be Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Emeritus Professor George David Baxter for services to physiotherapy and health Gillian Lorraine Bohm for services to health Associate Professor Philip Michel Jose Brinded for services to psychiatry Fergus Graham Brown for services to the tourism industry Graham Vincent Brown for services to the venison industry David Paul Burton for services to food writing Peter Hardy Ballantyne Carty for services to fly-fishing Suzanne Noreen Cato for services to music, television and education Hohepa Conrad for services to Māori, particularly kaupapa waka Peter Michael de Blois for services to music Dr Celia Jane Devenish Giddings for services to women's health and education Sophie Frances Monique Devine for services to cricket Judith Mary Dobson for services to the community, broadcasting and historical preservation Professor Bernadette Kathleen Drummond for services to dentistry and education Daryl Kelvin Eason for services to wildlife conservation Susan Elizabeth Elliott for services to the arts and governance Rear Admiral James Leslie Gilmour, (Rtd) for services to the New Zealand Defence Force Kirk Brian Hardy for services to drug abuse prevention and education Dafydd (Dai) Morgan Henwood for services to the entertainment industry and charitable fundraising Professor Patria Anne Hume for services to sports science and injury prevention Gary Rodney Lane for services to conservation and philanthropy Julia May Marshall for services to children's literature Peter David Martin, JP for services to the community, particularly Pacific and LGBTQ+ communities Murray Graham Mexted for services to rugby David Ross Morgan for services to aviation Panchanatham Narayanan for services to multicultural communities Peter Arnold Nation for services to the agricultural industry and governance Gillian Christine Naylor for services to rural communities, particularly women John Daniel O'Sullivan for services to business and philanthropy Dr Fiona Dorothy Pardington for services to photography Dr Susan Parry for services to gastroenterology David Robert Percy for services to fire safety technologies, business and the community Eric Clive Power for services to swimming Timothy Grant Southee for services to cricket Gail Patricia Spence for services to language education Distinguished Professor Emeritus Paul Spoonley for services to sociology John Bradley Struthers for services to cycling, the cycling industry and business Mark William Joseph Vela for services to mental health care and education Jennifer Mary Wake for services to theatre and television Neil William Walker for services to primary industries and the community Sarah Louise Walker for services to BMX and sports governance Dr Richard John Wild for services to animal welfare and the veterinary sector Portia Louise Woodman-Wickliffe for services to rugby Wayne Wright for services to education and philanthropy To be Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Anae Lupematasila Lima Arthur John Anae for services to the Samoan community Ellesse Mote Andrews for services to cycling Richard Balcombe-Langridge for services to business Catherine Juliet Bell for services to food education Dr Santosh Prasad Bhandari for services to the Nepalese community Darryl Bishop for services to mental health Victor Kenneth Boyd for services to survivors of abuse in care Anna Catherine Cottrell for services to documentary filmmaking and migrant communities Simon Eric Denny for services to art Welmoed (Chris) Duggan for services to science education Ronald Bruce Ealam for services to Search and Rescue Robert Tuahuru Edwards for services to the community and governance Susan Ann Elley for services to education Terri Jayne Fairhall (Terri Middleton) for services to the New Zealand Police and the community Allison Daphne Christina Franklin for services to people with disabilities Okesene Uili Galo for services to the Tokelau community Rez Gardi for services to refugees and human rights advocacy Alan Charles Gilmore for services to astronomy Francis Quinn Goldingham for services to outdoor recreation and seniors Elizabeth Helen Graham for services to Māori and education Patricia Pearl Gregory for services to the fashion industry Aaron Mark Halstead for services to Search and Rescue and the tourism industry Dr Nina Emilia Hood for services to education Lesley Mary Huckins for services to swimming Meleua Enda Ikiua for services to Vagahau Niue language and education Martin Kaipo for services to social services and the community Lalita Vanmali Kasanji for services to the IT industry and the Indian community Brian Patrick Kelly for services to broadcasting William James Kermode for services to governance and philanthropy Pamela Margaret Kilmartin for services to astronomy John Junior Kumitau for services to the Pacific community Laurinne Marion Laing for services to sports and people with intellectual disabilities Ross James Lawrence for services to the ski industry Lisa Li for services to the tourism industry James Eric Lilley for services to conservation and the community Janet Crystal-Lee Lilo for services to the arts Pauline-Jean Henrietta Luyten for services to rugby and the Pacific community Reverend David Elliott Major for services to the community and the State Ngatepaeru Marsters for services to midwifery and Pacific communities Lloyd James McCallum for services to the dairy industry and the environment Suzanne Michelle McFadden for services to sports journalism and women Ian Robert Flockhart McKelvie for services to local government, governance and as a Member of Parliament Grant Allan McMillan for services to education and the community Victoria Mary Mee for services to women and business Eugene Joseph Meredith for services to American Football Allan George Mincher for services to aviation engineering Margaret Mary Mitchell for services to the Royal New Zealand Naval Women's Association Dr Alishia Rangiwhakawaita for services to Māori culture Dr Malcolm George Davis Mulholland for services to health and Māori Khoa Truong Nguyen for services to New Zealand-Vietnam relations and the community Julia Louisa Pearse for services to governance and the community Sunit Prakash for services to the IT industry and the Indian community Dr Maxine Mariri Ronald for services to breast cancer treatment and research Gary James Herbert Rooney for services to business and philanthropy Bruce Winston Ross for services to cycling Charles Edward Ross for services to the community Morrin Jackson Rout for services to the arts, particularly literature Simon John Caufield Strombom for services to war commemoration and historical preservation Veronica Ngarutai Kaye Thompson for services to basketball Diane Anita Turner for services to governance, seniors and Māori Hariata Ann Vercoe for services to Māori, health, and the community Louise Annette Wallace for services to the entertainment industry Andrew Norman Williamson for services to agriculture Marilyn Kay Yeoman for services to education and the community To be an Honorary Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit: Viliami Teumohenga for services to education and the Pacific community To be Companions of the King's Service Order: Dr Christopher Evan Longhurst for services to survivors of abuse in care Tyrone Marks for services to survivors of abuse in care Phillip Wayne Paikea for services to the prevention of family violence and the community Dover Spencer Samuels for services as a Member of Parliament Peter William Tipene for services to Māori The King's Service Medal Heather Jayne Baldwin for services to the community Tina May Barrett for services to the community Debra Ann Bell for services to the community Narendra Bhana for services to the Indian community Marius Jean Bron for services to Search and Rescue and the community Judith Marion Browne for services to the community Julia Mary Castles for services to language education and migrant communities John Albert Coleman for services to the community and sport Lily Coleman for services to the community and sport Ross Melville Cooper for services to rugby Margaret Jean Cousins for services to local government and the community Glenda Gaye Davies for services to the community Aperira Ngahau Davis for services to the community Deborah Grace Davis for services to the community Gavin Lloyd Dennis for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community Edwin John Eeles for services to pipe bands Anthony William Norman Enderby for services to conservation Jennifer Fay Enderby for services to conservation Zora Estelle Feilo-Makapa for services to the Niue community and the arts Penelope-Jane Frost for services to children and social work Christine Ada Gilbertson for services to midwifery Kaiaho (Butch) Kereama Green for services to music Heidi Elizabeth Griffin for services to the arts and the community Allyson Teresa Hamblett for services to people with disabilities and the transgender community The Venerable Sohim Hay for services to the Cambodian community Katerina Hauhaua Hepi for services to Māori language education Nicola Linda Hickey (Nicky Rawlings) for services to Victim Support Luen Nanette Hoani for services to Māori language education Parminder Kaur for services to multicultural communities Kevin Francis Loe for services to the community and agriculture Timothy Peter Marshall for services to the community and waka ama Audrey Myra Mattinson for services to Scottish Country Dancing and the community Annie Elizabeth McCracken for services to the community Reverend Rosemary McMillan for services to the community Clem Burnard Mellish for services to Māori art and music Graham Frederick Charles Milligan for services to the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association Fergus Charles Denis More for services to the community and the law Graham (Kereama) Douglas Nathan for services to Māori Terence John O'Regan for services to nursing and the community Alison Isabel Perrin for services to the community and music Narayanan Kutty Pulloothpadath for services to ethnic communities Berry Jane Rangi for services to the community, particularly Pacific peoples Karen Elizabeth Richards for services to textiles history and conservation Papali'i Seiuli Johnny Siaosi for services to health and the Pacific community Rosemary Jan Sloman for services to the community Roberta Jane Smallfield for services to historical research and the community Alan (Curly) Rex Troon for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand Jacqueline June Watson for services to the community and the arts Dr Glenys Margaret Weir for services to health Merrilyn Joy Withers for services to youth and the Baptist movement Yuanyong Yang for services to bonsai and the Chinese community Honorary King's Service Medal Eteuati Fa'avae for services to the Pacific community Siesina Ofahelotu Latu for services to the Pacific community
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Knoxville City Council candidates keep violence interruption front and center
Knoxville violence interruption workers and advocates are making sure their mission stays in the public eye by running for city council this year. The neighborhoods that have been harmed by youth gun violence are in District 6, where Councilmember Gwen McKenzie is term-limited. Candidates Denzel Grant, director of Turn Up Knox; Stan Johnson, executive director and co-founder of SEEED; and Lawrence Williams, a pastor, all work in the violence interruption space. they're joined in the race by Sam Brown, Charles Frazier and George Raudenbush III. Making room at the table: The race for District 6 is crowded, with six candidates stepping up to run for the open seat. Several have been advocates for the city council to pressure Mayor Indya Kincannon to allocate more money for local violence interruption groups. Why it matters: Three of the six candidates said they're running to uplift community voices in violence interruption spaces. Presumably, it'll be a prominent talking point during the primary campaign, especially after the Knoxville City Council allowed the mayor to pay the National Institute of Criminal Justice Reform to spearhead violence interruption here instead of local nonprofits. Why the election change will have an impact: The new election system endorsed by voters in 2024 means only residents of a district can vote in that district's elections. Whatever voters decide is a priority will dominate the race. The top two candidates in the primary election will move on to the Nov. 4 general election. Get prepared: There's still a few months until the August primary, and Knox News will have voter's guides out before early voting so you can study up. In the meantime, you can get familiar with the candidates in your district the list at If you don't know which district you live in, put your address in at For conservative Knox County, no news is good news on the budget. That's reflected in Mayor Glenn Jacobs' proposal for the coming year, where the main highlights were $5 million in increased funding for the Knox County Sheriff's Office and Jacobs supporting Knox County Schools' full budget request. Property tax rates will not change if it's approved as proposed. The increased funding for KCSO will pay for overtime, funding for officers' pensions, raises, increased contract costs, new body cameras, new tasers and new vehicles. Body camera funding increases: The budget increase for body cameras comes as KCSO's policy is under scrutiny. Knox News was first to report the SWAT team members who shot and killed the South-Doyle High School student were not wearing bodycams during the raid on 18-year-old Daevon Montez Saint-Germain's home. SWAT team members shot and killed Saint-Germain. Neighbors and elected officials put pressure on KCSO to require body cameras, which Spangler told community members he did a month after the Saint-Germain's killing. What's happening this week: The Knox County Commission will listen to public input on the budget 4 p.m. May 19 in the main assembly room of the City-County Building, 400 Main St. The Knox County Commission will vote on the budget at 5p.m. May 19 in the main assembly room of the City-County Building, 400 Main St. Want to study up? Knox County's budget is at Click the finance option under the government tab. The proposed budget is at the top of the page. The Knoxville City Council is analyzing its own rules as part of a process it hopes to repeat regularly, similar to how the county commission reviews its' rules routinely. Why its relevant: The public comment section of meetings will be reviewed later this month. It loomed large last year, as demonstrations at meetings arose periodically, and were an ongoing point of friction between council members and pro-Palestinian demonstrators who effectively used the council's rules to redirect the focus of meetings from agenda items to the Israel-Hamas War. Council members grew exasperated by meetings that stretched for hours. Demonstrators pointed out that if the council refused to address their concerns about what could be done locally to influence the war, they would use the legal means available to them to make their points. Setting up a debate: Council member Amelia Parker, who represents the whole city, was an advocate for expanded public forum during the demonstrations, while most other members were quiet or supported Kincannon's efforts to keep the meeting moving. Now, Parker is on the council committee that's set to examine how public comment works. Happening this week: Parker is hosting an information session to talk about public forum rules from 6:30-8 p.m. May 27 via Zoom. Registration is required at the QR code on Parker's Facebook page. A couple weeks ago, I mentioned an effort by Knox County Commissioner Andy Fox to add an extra layer to the county's applications for federal grants. Fox's proposal: The county's grants department applies for state and federal help and then seeks the commission's approval before accepting the money. Fox wants commissioners to know before the department even sends in the application. Commissioners would be able to approve or deny the application, and they could also postpone it (potentially past the deadline). Why it's back The commission voted to delay a vote on Fox's proposal, so now its on their agenda again for this month. Important date: The commission will meet at 5 p.m. April May 19 in the main assembly room of the City-County Building at 400 Main St. Here are some news highlights from last week: Tyler Whetstone, Myron Thompson and Kelly Puente broke the news the the Tennessee Highway Patrol is now partnering with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement through the federal agency's most aggressive program Keenan Thomas wrote about former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam's new role Hayden Dunbar highlighted the history of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center on its 50th anniversary Allison Kiehl explained the new "Junk Fees Rule" I caught up with former supporters of Knox County Trustee Justin Biggs and politicos to talk about his spending Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville City Council candidates keep violence interruption out front
