Ms Ruth Gerzon, of Whakatāne, MNZM for services to community development and social justice
Ruth Gerzon was involved in the Whakatāne Association for Racial Understanding and co-facilitated workshops on Te Tiriti and advocacy. She helped establish the People First organisation to promote the rights of people with learning disabilities. She worked in the Like Minds Like Mine movement to reduce stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness. Through the Ministry of Health, she set up programmes in the Bay of Plenty to promote inclusion and autonomy for tāngata whaikaha/disabled people. She helped set up a ‘virtual village’ in Whakatāne to alleviate isolation and vulnerability among older people. Ms Gerzon supports the movement for communities to reclaim after-death care and reduce funeral poverty.