Leith Comer, of Rotorua, QSO,for services to Māori, the State and local government
Leith Comer was Chief Executive of Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Māori Development. Previously, he was Chair of Lakeland Health Ltd. He helped establish and was an inaugural member of the Rotorua District Council Te Arawa Standing committee. He led a consortium of Te Arawa and Mātaatua iwi during the sales process of Forestry Corporation and, although the bid was unsuccessful, it served as the forerunner of the successful Central North Island forestry settlement. He was Chairman of the Rotorua Lakes Council Establishment Board. He is currently Chairman and Executive Director of the Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru Education Trust, Chairman of Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi Trust and lead negotiator in their Treaty negotiations, and a member of the New Zealand Parole Board.