Mrs Laine Leata Tipi, of Waitakere, MNZM for services to Pacific communities and education
Toeolesulusulu Laine Leata Tipi worked as a liaison for Pacific parents and secondary schools in Auckland in the 1990s. She established the licensed Samoan language preschool Leataata Tupulaga O le Pasifika, which now also offers classes for adults on a wide range of life skills. Mrs Tipi has served on a number of local school Boards of Trustees. She is a Justice of the Peace and the Samoan Representative for the Waitakere City Council. She is the chair for the Samoan Teacher’s Association Waitemata and Waitakere City for Early Childhood Education. Mrs Tipi has helped establish the Early Childhood Sector with the Ministry of Education’s Community of Learners.