Mr Michael Hollings, of Wellington, KSO for services to education and Māori
Michael Hollings (Ngāti Raukawa, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi) was Chief Executive and Principal of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, New Zealand’s state distance education provider. He ensured the delivery of equitable and excellent outcomes for all students, particularly Māori and Pacific students. He led the revitalisation of te reo Māori within the public service as Chief Executive of Te Mangai Paho, and subsequently through senior roles within the Ministry of Education, Education Review Office, and University of Waikato. He led the establishment of a Kohanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori in his local community in the Wairarapa. He was Chairperson of Taki Rua, a theatre company producing te reo Māori performances to schools and kura kaupapa Māori. Mr Hollings chaired the boards of Volunteer Service Abroad and Makoura College.