Mr Rauru Kirikiri, of Wellington, ONZM for services to Māori, science and conservation
Mr Rauru Kirikiri (Te Whānau ā Apanui) has been an effective mediator between scientists and iwi. He was a senior manager and cultural advisor with Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, helping researchers connect and partner with iwi on conservation projects. He assisted New Zealand and Australian research teams with negotiations to introduce the calicivirus as a biocontrol agent for rabbit populations. He has served on the Board of the Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, as a Trustee of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature New Zealand, and as a member of the New Zealand Conservation Authority. His mediation has helped ensure safe consumption of tuna from Whakakī Lake and safe harvesting of wild food in Uawa/Tolaga Bay. Mr Kirikiri is a Companion of the Royal Society of New Zealand.