Mrs Joan Whittaker and Mr Lloyd Whittaker, of Auckland, MNZM for services to heritage preservation and music education
Joan Whittaker and her husband, Lloyd Whittaker, founded the Whittakers Musical Museum, a world-class collection of working instruments on Waiheke Island.
For the past 24 years, they have dedicated their lives to the Museum, where they maintain and restore instruments, give performances, and host national and international musicians. The museum is run through a charitable trust, seeking no further income other than what is necessary for its maintenance.
They have sourced and restored instruments of historical and cultural significance to New Zealand. The Museum is also a well-regarded training institution, where Mr and Mrs Whittaker teach at every level from young children to students from the University of Auckland.