Ms Therese Weir, of Whangaporaoa, QSM, for services to people with disabilities
Therese Weir has worked for the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and Auckland Crown Health Enterprises.
She helped establish an innovative policy partnership between disabled people and government services in Auckland. After the government launched the New Zealand Disability Strategy, she was a key figure in shaping Auckland’s health and disability support system.
Due to Ms Weir’s leadership, groups who were often overlooked, especially disabled Māori and Pacific women, received the confidence to lead and to build organisations such as PIASS Trust, Vaka Tautua, Te Roopu Waiora Trust, Taikura Trust, and Ripple Trust.