Sir John Gallagher, KNZM, of Hamilton, for services to business, education, philanthropy and the community
Sir John Gallagher was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002 and has since continued to serve and contribute to his community and various organisations. Sir John is recognized as a community leader and philanthropist and is a major shareholder and Director of Gallagher Holdings Ltd. He continues to serve as a Director of Habitat for Humanity Hamilton, where over 25 years as Chairman he guided the organization from small beginnings to operating as the Central North Island Region. He is a Trustee of the Gallagher Charitable Trust, a member of the Hamilton Rotary Club for 30 years, a member and Fellow of the New Zealand Trustees Association, and a member and Distinguished Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. He served for 25 years on the Council of the University of Waikato, including terms as Pro-Chancellor then Chancellor from 2003 to 2006. He was a New Zealand National Fieldays Society founding exhibitor from inception, a Hamilton City Councillor for 12 years and Waikato Regional Councillor for three years. He was a Trustee of Skycity Hamilton Community Trust from 2003 to 2009, Hamilton Garden’s Te Parapara Garden Trust from 2006 to 2012 and a Councillor for the Young Enterprise Trust. In 2011 Sir John established and is a Trustee of the Glenice and John Gallagher Foundation.