Mrs Billie-Jean Potaka Ayton, MNZM, of Gisborne, for services to education and Māori
Billie-Jean Potaka Ayton (Ngāti Whakaue) is the Principal of Kaiti School in Te Tairāwhiti, catering to years 1 to 8, with 90 percent of students identifying as Māori and seven percent as Pacific Peoples. Under her leadership, the roll has increased significantly and there have been high levels of attendance, student success and whānau engagement. She has led curriculum changes to reflect the students and their whakapapa. She has supported and developed bilingual Māori Immersion learning. Kaiti School was the first Whānau Ora school, providing programmes and pathways to uplift whānau. Mrs Potaka Ayton is a member of the Education Review Office’s Principals Advisory Group and the Springboard Trust.