Mr Ewan Smith, of Arorangi, Cook Islands, CNZM for services to Cook Islands business and tourism
Mr Ewan Smith is founder and Managing Director of Air Rarotonga Ltd. Under his leadership, Air Rarotonga has developed an Air Ambulance service and has trained and employed almost exclusively Cook Islands-born pilots and support staff. Mr Smith has contributed to a number of community causes through Air Rarotonga, which have included sponsoring or providing free air travel for sport and charitable groups, as well as sponsoring the education of a number of Cook Islands children up to tertiary level. He is Chairman of the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation. He has played key roles in developing long-term relationships with tourism partners such as Air New Zealand. Mr Smith was President of the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce and provided leadership during the Cook Islands economic crisis.