Sister Marie Roche, Upper Hutt, MNZM
For services to the community. Sister Marie has been a Catholic prison chaplain at Rimutaka Prison for 14 years, giving unstinting support to prisoners and their families. She is renowned for the selfless care she provides to prisoners and their families, and is widely respected by both prisoners and prison staff. She often goes beyond the call of duty, giving extra support to prisoners. Prior to this she worked as the co-ordinator for six years at Challenge 2000, a non-governmental youth and family agency. She was a support person to families in the Court system and at Arohata, Mount Crawford and Rimutaka Prisons. She was a school teacher for 24 years and was instrumental in establishing St Peter Chanel School, a bilingual school, in Otaki, of which she was Principal for 6 years. In her role at Rimutaka Prison.