George Ririnui
George Ririnui, of Waitangi, Chatham Islands, received the Queen's Service Medal for services to the Ministry of Fisheries and the community. Mr Ririnui has been the sole fishery officer on the Chatham Islands since 2007. He has been instrumental in establishing a number of tools to protect the Chatham Islands’ fishing ecology. He has monitored commercial fishing and established close relationships with iwi. He instigated honorary fisheries officers on the islands and a recreational fishing forum to discuss issues caused by the tourist and charter industry. He has also immersed himself in the local community. Mr Ririnui is a volunteer fire-fighter, a rugby referee, a member of the Chatham Islands civil defence emergency response team, assists the sole police officer with police duties and volunteers at Te One School.