Mr Frank Solomon and Mrs Judy Solomon of Auckland, MNZM, for services to education, particularly Māori and Pacific education
Frank Solomon (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa) trained as a teacher and was Principal of Waiheke Area School and Rotorua Lakes High School. His wife, Judy Solomon, was Head of Learning at Rotorua Lakes High School and Dean of English at St Stephens Māori Boys School. They co-founded Solomon Group, a private training establishment that provides learning opportunities to disadvantaged Māori and Pacific learners in a holistic, cultural environment based on Māori kaupapa values. They were host providers for ‘Whānau Ara Mua’, an education programme increasing parents’ literacy and employability skills. The Group worked with Māori and Pasifika Trades Training to provide employment pathways. Mr and Mrs Solomon worked with ANZ to deliver the ‘Money Minded’ programme, teaching financial literacy and budgeting skills to students.