Ms Hellen Puhipuhi, of Whanganui, QSM, for services to the Pacific community and education
Ms Hellen Puhipuhi founded and directs the Born and Raised Pasifika Early Childhood Education Centre (ECE) and the Pasifika Learning Centre in Whanganui. She helped to establish the Pasifika Vision Forum Charitable Trust and develop the Whanganui Welcoming Communities Plan. She chairs the Pasifika Vision Forum Charitable Trust and the Whanganui Pasifika Community Group. She is a member of the government’s ECE Advisory Committee and ECE Research Policy Forum and co-authored the government-commissioned Pasifika Early Childhood Scoping Report.
Ms Puhipuhi is a lead organiser for the Whanganui Festival of Cultures and a leader of the Whanganui Fijian Community Group.