Mr Brian Coffey, MNZM, of Lower Hutt, for services to people with disabilities
Brian Coffey (Te Ātiawa ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara) has been a teacher and educational psychologist and held managerial roles for special education strategy. He has been involved in disability and mental health provision as a support worker and at a national policy level. He is Director of the Office for Disability Issues. He has been a government representative at the United Nations examination of New Zealand’s Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He has helped develop and implement the refresh of the ‘New Zealand Disability Strategy 2016-2026’. Mr Coffey is a Board member for Pathways, providing community-based mental health, addiction and wellbeing services.