Sir Paul Adams, of Tauranga, KNZM, for services to philanthropy and the community
Sir Paul Adams was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2015 for his services to business and philanthropy, and since then has continued to hold a range of patronages, trusteeships and leadership positions for a variety of charitable and community organisations.
Sir Paul is the Patron of IHC Bay of Plenty and Te Tuinga Whanau Support Trust. In 2015 he became Patron of Waipuna Hospice, Tauranga, following 12 years as a Trustee. As Chairman of Accessible Properties, IHC’s social housing arm, he has overseen a broadening of focus to cater for people who qualify for the Government’s income-related rent-subsidy programme. Under his stewardship Accessible Properties owns and manages New Zealand’s largest non-governmental social housing portfolio, with around 3,000 homes across the country. He is currently involved in a joint venture with Ngati Toa Rangatira to develop around 1,000 affordable homes. Sir Paul is a Director of Kordia, a State Owned Telecommunications Company, and as a Council Member of University of Waikato has been directly involved in bringing a new University Campus to Tauranga. As a founding Director he donated a significant sum to the University for the Development of the Adams High Performance Sports Centre in Tauranga, now home to New Zealand Rugby Sevens. He was a Board member of the Correspondence School Te Kura for four years. Sir Paul has provided philanthropic support to a range of sports, arts and community events around the North Island.