Jim Strang, Christchurch, QSM, for services to New Zealand-Nepal relations
Mr Jim Strang has worked with the Sir Edmund Hillary Himalayan Trust to develop teacher training models in rural and remote mountain regions of Nepal. Mr Strang worked with the Sir Edmund Hillary Trust from 1997 to 2004 introducing teacher training to the Solukhumbu region of Nepal. Since then he has co-ordinated and advised the Australian Himalayan Foundation, UK Himalayan Trust and Naulekh Foundation teacher training programmes. From an initial 65 schools there are now 300 schools in four districts which have received or are receiving teacher training, benefiting 1,300 teachers and 30,000 students. Mr Strang is a counsellor as well as a teacher. He counselled at Aranui High School for 23 years, and is involved in providing supervision for counsellors. He is on several boards promoting services for at-risk students in eastern Christchurch, as well as the board of Peer Support New Zealand. Mr Strang works as a counsellor for the Family Court and most recently has been counselling those affected by the Christchurch earthquake.