Mr Ron Baker, of Auckland, MNZM, for services to Māori mental health
Ron Baker (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Whānau o Rongomaiwahine) was a Charge Nurse at Whaiora, the first Māori Mental Health Unit, established at Tokanui Hospital. He was part of a collective that founded Manawanui, a Marae for Māori who experience mental illness and addiction in Auckland. With his wife, he has delivered Te Ihi Ora, a suicide prevention education programme. He has guided and trained others in the field to address the impacts of suicide on Māori. He has provided support and mentorship for a mental health programme which will address healing in a cultural way. Mr Baker is Kaumatua of Manawanui and the College of Mental Health Nurses.