Mr Mark Vela of Auckland, ONZM for services to mental health care and education
Mr Mark Vela taught children with cerebral palsy at Carlson Special School and oversaw integration efforts at the Mt Roskill Intermediate Physically Disabled Unit. He has been seconded as a visiting teacher and has supported schools with students experiencing behavioural difficulties. Within the Special Education Service, he led a team of psychologists, speech language therapists, visiting teachers, and advisors for the deaf. He was a Senior Advisor on Special Education to the Minister of Education. Within the health sector and as a manager at ProCare Health, he helped to introduce a primary mental health programme. He is an Advisory Board member for Gandhi Nivas, a programme preventing family harm. Mr Vela is CEO of the primary health organisation Total Healthcare Charitable Trust, through which he has supported high-needs patient populations.