Mr Lester Dean, of Invercargill, QSM, for services to the Pacific community
Lester Dean has been Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Trust Otago (PTO) during a period of financial uncertainty, restructuring to stay in operation and seeking alternative income streams such as a joint venture with a local business to establish container housing business Pacific Pods Limited. He was General Manager of Pacific Island Advisory and Cultural Trust in Invercargill. He helped establish an early childhood centre for Pacific children, a homework and afterschool programme at a Pacific Island church, and the ‘Toa Scholarship’ programme for Year 12 and 13 Pacific students. Mr Dean teaches the Cook Islands language in Dunedin.