Mr Patrick Bronte, of Palmerston North, MNZM, for services to military history
Patrick Bronte has spent 21 years travelling New Zealand to capture and preserve more than 500 audio and video interviews with Returned Service men and women.
A tetraplegic since an accident at age 16, he uses a mouth stick and has produced the website ‘Nga Toa’ to make these interviews freely available.
He founded the Nga Toa Charitable Trust, which has contributed to remembrance activities and is currently collaborating with historians to develop an augmented-reality app to teach children about New Zealand veterans.
Mr Bronte’s interviews have raised awareness and been used by the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association to inform veteran services and policy.