Mojo Mathers, of Geraldine, MNZM, for services to people with disabilities
Mojo Mathers was New Zealand’s first deaf Member of Parliament. She used her position to advocate for improved accessibility and access to political information for those with disabilities. Her efforts resulted in the use of sign language interpreters in Parliament and the captioning of live screening of Parliamentary sessions. She has raised awareness of the barriers disabled people face with accessing employment. She has supported Hearing House Charity’s campaign to have the Government fund cochlear implants for both ears for children. Ms Mathers was a founder of the Malvern Hills Protection Society and led an eight-month campaign that resulted in a ban on animal testing of cosmetics.