Nahusita Selupe, of Auckland, MNZM, for services to education and Māori and Pacific communities
Mrs Selupe founded the Rise UP Trust and one of New Zealand’s first charter schools, Rise UP Academy, of which she is Chief Executive and Principal. Rise UP uses innovative programmes to boost educational achievement among Pacific and Māori youth. Rise UP Trust has helped more than 200 families, and the school’s students have reached national standards in reading, writing and maths at 20 percentage points above the average of other children in Mangere and Otahuhu. Mrs Selupe has developed a series of whanau mentoring services that encourage parents to participate in their children’s learning. She is a member of the Ministry of Education Northern Region Pacific Advisory Group.