Mrs Margaret Kouvellis, of Palmerston North, MNZM for services to local government and education
Margaret Kouvelis was the Mayor of the Manawatu District Council and led the advancement of several major projects. She founded and was inaugural Chair of Talent Central Charitable Trust, currently chairs the New Zealand Rural Games Trust and Te Manawa Family Services Trust, and is a Trustee of the Central Energy Trust. She previously taught at schools around New Zealand and was Head of Music at Freyberg High School. She became the music advisor at Massey University and the National Facilitator for Music in the implementation of NCEA. Mrs Kouvelis was the inaugural Chief Executive of the New Zealand Teachers Council and is currently Chief Executive of Talent Central.