Loine Tapaotama Lavakula
Loine Tapaotama Lavakula, of Otara, received the Queen's Service Medal for services to the Pacific Islands community. Mrs Tapaotama Lavakula has been involved with the Pacific Islands community in Auckland for more than 20 years with a number of initiatives and organisations. She is the coordinator for the Pacific Information Advocacy Support Services Trust, where she has been an advocate for the support of the health and wellbeing of children, elderly, and those with mental disabilities. She is a founding member of Manukau City Council’s Pacific Island Advisory Committee and was a member of the Otara Community Board. Mrs Tapaotama Lavakula is a member of the Counties Manukau District Health Board and the Niuean representative on the Pacific Island Advisory Committee.