Mrs Valeti Finau, of Auckland, MNZM, for services to education and the Pacific community
Valeti Finau is the founder and director of Laulotaha, a mentoring programme helping Pacific Island students achieve success in education. She has supported many students from Tonga in her own home while they completed their studies. She was a foundation staff member of Whitireia Polytechnic, tutoring the Foundation Nursing programme and serving as Liaison Officer. She set up the first tertiary Pacific Advisory Committee at Whitireia, and established links with education providers throughout the Pacific to provide New Zealand accredited programmes. She set up the Tupou Tertiary Institute in Tonga. Mrs Finau is a member of the Vahefonua community outreach group, and is a lay preacher and Parish Steward.