Professor Tom Roa, Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Credit: Waikato Times
The University of Waikato is celebrating the achievements of a current professor and several alumni recognised in this year’s New Year Honours for their outstanding contributions across education, culture, sport, governance and community service.
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Professor Tom Roa (Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato, Ngāti Apakura) has been recognised for services to Māori language and education.
For more than 50 years, Professor Roa has played a pivotal role in the revitalisation of te reo Māori and the advancement of tikanga Māori. A respected Tainui leader and Professor in Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao – Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies, he is internationally recognised for his work in Māori history and linguistics, translation and interpretation, and Indigenous language systems.
Professor Roa is an alumnus of the University, having completed a Master of Arts in 1997 and PhD in Applied Linguistics in 2016. He was a leader in the 1972 Māori Language Petition, which led to te reo Māori becoming an official language of New Zealand and the establishment of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.
His service includes governance roles with Waikato-Tainui, Maniapoto and the Apakura Runanga Trust and in 2016, was appointed as a Crown member of the Waitangi Tribunal.
Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Shirley Hooper, a Bachelor of Management Studies graduate, has been honoured for services to netball and artistic swimming, with more than 50 years of contributions as a player, umpire, sponsor, broadcaster, board member and chairperson.
Iain Potter is a Bachelor of Social Sciences alumnus who has been recognised for services to sport and health. He oversaw significant organisational change within Basketball New Zealand and has held governance roles across the health and rugby sectors.
Tenby Powell is a Master of Management Studies alumnus and Distinguished Alumni awardee of the University recognised for services to business, governance and humanitarian aid. The charity that he founded, Kiwi K.A.R.E, has raised around $7 million in support of the people of Ukraine.
Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit
David Pluck, a Bachelor of Education alumnus of the University, has been recognised for his advocacy for disabled children and his commitment to equity within New Zealand’s education system.
Gaye Poole is a Postgraduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching alumna and former theatre studies lecturer within Te Kura Toi School of Arts, who has dedicated over 20 years to the performing arts and education sectors in New Zealand and internationally. She is the founder of the Hamilton-based Carving in Ice Theatre and a recipient of the University's Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship programme.
Companion of the King’s Service Order
Mark Harawira (Ngāti Awa, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngāti Maniapoto, Tūhourangi) is a Diploma of Teaching alumnus awarded for his contributions to Māori education, conservation and performing arts.
