Mrs Helen Rawiri, of Takanini, MNZM for services to Māori language education
Helen Rawiri (Waikato Tainui) trained as a primary school teacher and helped establish Te Maunga Kura, the first bilingual/total immersion language learning school in Papakura. She was Kuia at Manukau Institute of Technology, providing guidance and teaching in te reo Māori, tikanga and the practice of karanga, karakia, waiata and tawhito. She was Kaikaranga at marae events. She established a teaching and learning curriculum at the Ngāti Tamaoho Trust. She has supported the Kīngitanga at numerous events. She is the official kuia for Māori Television in Auckland. She assisted New Zealand Police during the implementation of COVID-19 border controls. Mrs Rawiri is Kuia for the Ngāti Tamaoho Settlement Trust.