Lieutenant Commander Mark Te Kani, DSD, for services to the New Zealand Defence Force
Lieutenant Commander Mark Te Kani (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Te Whakatōhea) was Maritime Surveillance Advisor in the Cook Islands from February 2020 to January 2023, leading the Cook Islands Police Service maritime security capability, contributing to maritime security of the neighbouring regions. Lieutenant Commander Te Kani oversaw a programme to replacement aging patrol boats with more modern boats donated by the Australian Government, which are operated to provide maritime security to the 15 islands and ocean territory of the Cook Islands. He led the significant project to upgrade the Cook Islands Police Service Maritime Surveillance Centre to ensure there was a fit-for-purpose support facility. These multimillion-dollar projects are the largest ever completed in the Cook Islands under the Australian Defence Cooperation Programme with New Zealand support. He also provided support to the New Zealand and Australian High Commissions, and several Cook Islands Ministries and Agencies, acting as escort for high-profile state visits and as Master of Ceremonies for New Zealand recognised public events. Within the wider Cook Islands community, he took on several voluntary tasks and functions. Lieutenant Commander Te Kani assisted the Cook Islands Airport Authority Emergency Exercise to revalidate their operating license, contributed to emergency management planning meetings, served on the committees of the Cook Islands Aotearoa Society and Cook Islands RSA, and coached local rugby.