Peter Charleton, of New Plymouth
Peter Charleton, of New Plymouth, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community. Mr Charleton was a chartered accountant in Taranaki until his retirement in 2007 and has freely given of his time in auditing accounts for community organisations. He has held executive positions with the Stratford Rugby Club, the Stratford Lions Club, and the Taranaki Justices of the Peace Association. He was secretary of the Federation of Taranaki Dairy Factories where he made a large contribution to the rationalisation of the dairy industry. Of Te Atiawa and Tainui descent, he has made a major contribution to the Taranaki Maori community through his role as an initiator of the Federation of Maori Authorities and his work with the Parininihi Ki Waitotara Incorporation as a trustee and later as chief executive. His leadership and tenacity as a member of the Crown Working Party on reforming Maori Reserve Lands contributed to the Crown’s $47.5 million settlement for past losses from Maori Reserve Land.