Sionepaea Kumitau MNZM
Sionepaea Kumitau, of Auckland, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the Niuean community. Mr Kumitau is Chairperson of the Niue Taskforce on Family Violence and a member of the Vagahau Niue Taskforce Committee, which raises awareness of the Niuean language among New Zealand-born Niueans. He is a translator for Learning Media and a registered interpreter for the Department of Internal Affairs. For the last 15 years he has been a volunteer programme producer and radio announcer for 531pi’s Niuean community programme. He is the assistant manager of the Niue rugby team and head organiser of the Niue Constitution Day celebrations in Auckland. He has been involved in the Māngere Pacific Island Presbyterian Church since 1982. Mr Kumitau has worked as a social worker for the past 27 years, and is employed by Child, Youth and Family as a Family Group Conference co-ordinator.