Puhirake Ihaka, Lee Murray and Dr Keith Turner. Composite photo / NZME
Puhirake Ihaka, Lee Murray and Dr Keith Turner. Composite photo / NZME
A host of high achievers from the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel and Lakes regions have been named in the 2025 New Year Honours, chosen from hundreds of nominations received every year. They are listed below with information from their citations. In the coming days, we will publish further stories from interviews with some of the honourees.
Western Bay of Plenty
Dr Keith Sharman Turner (Tauranga): Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the electricity industry
Dr Keith Turner has made a significant contribution to the electricity industry over 55 years and has also contributed to governance.
Turner - born and raised in Rotorua - was the founding chief executive of Meridian Energy, established in 1998, and served until 2008. As chief executive, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Mākara wind farm in 2009.
Between 1983 and 1998 he held various positions with DesignPower and the former New Zealand Electricity Department, and served as the chief operating officer of the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand.
Dr Keith Turner pictured in 2022. Photo / Dean Purcell
Turner was involved in the reform of the electricity industry, serving as a member of the Transpower Establishment Board, an M-Co founding director, a member of the Contact Energy Establishment Team, and a member of the Market Surveillance Committee.
As the chairman of Fisher and Paykel Appliances from 2010 to 2019, he guided the company through challenging years.
He is a member of the New South Wales State EnergyCo Board, chairman of Napier-based Kwetta Technologies, which builds networks of integrated ultra-fast EV chargers, and served as chairman of DamWatch from 1999 to 2008 and again from 2016 to 2022.
Turner has been the chairman of Transpower New Zealand since 2022.
Albert Puhirake Ihaka (Tauranga): Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and governance
Puhirake Ihaka (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa) is a long-standing leader of Ngāi te Rangi iwi, Ngāti Tapu hapū, and Waikari Marae.
As the chairman of his hapū, Ihaka represented Ngāti Tapu on Te Rūnanga o Ngāi te Rangi Iwi Trust for 24 years.
He did extensive research in the preparation of the Ngāi te Rangi Waitangi Tribunal Treaty claims and provided leadership throughout the negotiations process.
He was appointed to the Ngāi te Rangi Settlement Trust and the Ngāi te Rangi Fisheries Trust, managing post-Treaty settlement resources for the iwi.
Puhirake Ihaka pictured in 2021 at the Battle of Pukehinahina Gate Pā commemorative service at the Anglican Parish of Gate Pā church. Photo / George Novak
Ihaka is a foundation member of the Tauranga City Council Tangata Whenua Collective and has served as the independent chairman for 12 years. He was instrumental in the establishment of Te Pou Takawaenga, Tauranga City Council’s Māori Relationship Unit.
He facilitated the development of partnership policies such as the Strategic Property Acquisitions and Disposal Policy and the establishment of a Māori Ward.
Ihaka is co-chair of Otamataha Trust, a director of Te Kawai Taumata National Fisheries Appointment Board, past director of the National Iwi Collective Partnership representing Ngāi Te Rangi Fisheries AHC Ltd., and a member of the Elms Foundation Board of Trustees.
Noel Graham Harris (Mount Maunganui): Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the thoroughbred racing industry
Noel Harris (Te Ātiawa) was a formidable force during his 45 years as a racing jockey.
His career bolted from its 1970 start as he went on to claim 2167 national victories, the New Zealand Jockey Premiership in 1972-1973, and the coveted title of New Zealand Champion Apprentice Jockey in 1971-1972.
Harris shares the New Zealand record for most wins at 3200m – boasting four New Zealand cups, three Wellington cups, and three Auckland cups.
At 55, Harris made a name for himself as the oldest jockey to ride in the Melbourne Cup.
He marked the finish line of his racing days in 2015 by initiating the role of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Board apprentice mentor.
Noel Harris mentoring. Photo / Supplied
Through this he helps Kiwi apprentices improve their riding skills and abilities in everyday life.
In 2018 Harris was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.
Ian Martyn Pickard (Pāpāmoa): Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Ian Pickard has spent more than half a century on the frontline and behind the scenes of firefighting in New Zealand.
His dedication ignited in 1971 when he became a volunteer firefighter at the Timaru Fire Brigade, and grew in fervour to the point he became the first chairman of the New Zealand Firefighters Welfare Society.
During his 30-year involvement with the society, he was instrumental in the pioneering purchase of holiday homes and the creation of a healthcare plan specifically for firefighters.
Pickard held important posts throughout his career as chief fire officer of the Dunedin Fire District and assistant fire region commander of operations of the southern fire region.
And when disaster struck overseas, he volunteered and led teams within the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination response.
Lee Wei-Hahn Murray (Tauranga) Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to literature, particularly speculative literature
Lee Murray is an independent writer of science fiction, fantasy and horror (speculative fiction, collectively), producing works for adults and children with a particular New Zealand focus.
She has written and curated nearly 40 titles since 2007, earning more than 25 national and international awards.
Notably, she has received five international Bram Stoker Awards and is the only New Zealander to receive the Shirley Jackson Award for psychological horror.
She is a Life Member of Speculative Fiction Writers of New Zealand, and of Tauranga Writers, where she convened the group’s professional development programme from 2018 to 2020.
Lee Murray pictured in 2019. Photo / Andrew Warner
She co-founded and co-facilitated Young New Zealand Writers, a not-for-profit which provided development and publishing opportunities for Year 7 to 13 students from 2012 to 2022, convening two annual writing competitions and curating seven of the organisation’s 16 anthologies.
She co-established the Wright-Murray Residency for Speculative Fiction, which ran in 2019 and 2020 before the death of sponsor Chloe Wright.
As a volunteer curator-editor, she has championed nine national anthologies to develop emerging writers. As a mentor, Murray has supported more than 100 writers, including for the international Horror Writers Association, holding several roles since 2016, including co-founding and co-chairing the Wellness Committee, which focuses on improving horror literature portrayals of mental health to reduce stigma and increase understanding.
Her awards include the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Society Honouree for Excellence in Fiction and Poetry, 2023; Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Fiction, 2023; and Honorary Fellow of the New Zealand Society of Authors for Services to Speculative Fiction, 2020.
Julian Richmond Fitter (Katikati): Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to conservation
Julian Fitter has been contributing to conservation for more than 50 years through various organisations.
He was a founding trustee of the United Kingdom-based Falklands Conservation Trust in 1979, serving time as vice president. He was instrumental in establishing the Galapagos Conservation Trust in 1997, serving as inaugural chairman and currently as an ambassador.
Fitter has authored several books including Albatross, Their World Their Ways (2008) with wildlife photographer Tui De Roy. He has written three books on New Zealand wildlife: New Zealand Wildlife (2009), Field Guide to the Wildlife of New Zealand (2010/2021) and Birds of New Zealand (2011).
Julian Fitter pictured in 2021. Photo / George Novak
In 2008 he established and is now a committee member of the Friends of Galapagos New Zealand organisation, working with the Charles Darwin Foundation and The Galapagos National Park.
He helped establish Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Society in 2009, to protect the breeding population of Northern New Zealand dotterel on Maketu Spit.
As chairman of the society from 2010 to 2023, five environmental programmes were developed, funded by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, focusing on biosecurity and restoration to prioritise native biodiversity sites around the Maketu and Waihī Estuaries.
Fitter established Bay Conservation in 2016 and helped establish the Bittern Conservation Trust in 2023, which he chairs.
Michael Joseph Ledingham (Te Puke): King’s Service Medal for services to survivors of abuse in care
Michael Ledingham has spent more than 20 years actively campaigning for the redress and improvement of child safety in faith-based care settings, in particular Roman Catholic Church care institutions.
He and his two brothers experienced abuse in faith-based care during the 1950s and 1960s.
The lack of response from the Catholic Church on the abuse experienced by the three brothers drove Ledingham to advocate for an investigation into the silencing and covering up of reported child abuse in churches.
He wrote The Catholic Boys (2019) which told of the impacts the abuse he and his two brothers suffered had on the siblings.
Ledingham shared about how the abuse affected opportunities and life choices for him and his brothers.
Reverend Marie Eleanor Gilpin (Pāpāmoa): King’s Service Medal for services to the community
Reverend Marie Gilpin, as part of the Ministry of Seafarers in Mount Maunganui, has provided support to staff, planned and facilitated learning and skill forums, and trained staff on stress management and the spiritual care of seafarers in the hospital.
Gilpin is in her 11th year as Mount Maunganui Returned and Services Association chaplain, and has officiated at Anzac commemoration services.
Reverend Marie Gilpin in 2015. Photo / NZME
She was a member of the Anglican Diocese Discernment Panel in Hamilton and was a voluntary social worker for the former Department of Social Welfare for five years.
Gilpin was appointed to Saint Stephen’s Church in Tamahere and then as Vicar at Mount Maunganui.
In 2008, she helped establish the Neighbourhood Support Group for Mount Maunganui. She divided the area into six zones and designated a coordinator for each.
Jennifer (Jenny) Gai Wotten (Te Puke): King’s Service Medal for services to the community and squash
Jenny Wotten has spent close to three decades volunteering in Te Puke school, sports, and charitable groups.
For nine years, she was president and secretary of Te Puke Primary School Parent Teacher Association.
Wotten was a founding member and volunteer for Te Puke Toy Library, and from 2008 she split her time between secretary of the Te Puke Neighbourhood Support group and Te Puke Squash Club Committee, which she served a season as president.
Wotten filled almost every voluntary role within the club, including uniforms officer, sponsorship liaison, communications officer, and bar manager.
Additionally, she was chair of Te Puke Centre Charitable Trust in 2020, having been secretary and founding trustee of the preceding Te Puke Centre Project which helped preserve the local post office from closure.
Vicki Barnard in 2004 when the new centre was opened. Photo / NZME
Barnard and her husband converted a building on their property to become a dedicated overflow for the SPCA when the centre was full.
She also fostered more than 150 dogs and 300 cats, which went on to successful rehoming.
Barnard organised de-sexing drives for remote Bay of Plenty towns to help reduce the number of animals dumped.
During her involvement, which started in 1996 and lasted until 2019, she was president, centre manager, auxiliary officer, and served on the National Board.
Taupō
Colin Terence Campbell: King’s Service Medal for services to horse racing and governance
Terry Campbell’s move to Taupō was the start of a new chapter for the local racing club.
In the 13 years he has been involved in the Taupō Racing Club - all but one year as president - he has helped make the club financially sustainable through fundraising, sponsorship and strong management.
Since the club separated from local racing clubs in 2018, its membership has increased 40% and local sponsorship increased exponentially.
The club was one of the very few in the country to develop its facilities during this time, the result of which was an increased number of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing fixtures and economic activity.
Terry Campbell has been involved in the Taupō Racing Club for 13 years. Photo / Rachel Canning
Campbell, through a joint venture with the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association, opened the Taupō Racing Club facilities to accommodate visitors to the town, and separately leased some of its grounds for cropping.
He remains actively involved with the Taupō Racing Club at all levels, helping to empty its rubbish bins, liaise with visiting trainers and jockeys, and take penetrometer readings at dawn.
Belinda Henderson Walker: Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community
Belinda Walker has spent nine years making the Kinloch community better suited for families.
She has organised family-friendly events through the Kinloch Families Trust which she set up in 2021 and has chaired since.
Walker was also chair of the Kinloch Community Association, where she spoke on behalf of the community at council meetings.
Her advocacy within the local government space resulted in basketball hoops being added to tennis courts; the installation of a rugby goal post, cricket net, and bike park; plus the running of pop-up school holiday basketball lessons.
Walker led negotiations and fundraising efforts to establish a kindergarten in Kinloch that will double as a community space.
She spurred the development of a community plan, sports grounds resurfacing, road safety initiatives, and continues to call for better school bus services.
Sue is the trust’s treasurer, while Peter is co-chair of the Whangamatā Community Marae and Well-being Hub (Governance Group).
The Priests helped prepare a business case to secure land for the establishment of a marae in Whangamatā, of which land was allocated for in February this year.
The couple drive the development of the Māori language, culture and tikanga in Whangamatā by running community lessons and organising debut Matariki celebrations.
Rotorua
Unusually, no one in this year’s list of honourees provided a Rotorua address. We asked the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, which oversees the honours, some questions about the situation, including whether anyone from Rotorua was nominated.
A spokeswoman said about 800 to 1000 nominations are considered for appointment to New Zealand Royal Honours each year. There are two regular Honours lists, one at New Year and one at King’s Birthday. Information about individual nominations is not released.
Nominations are considered by the Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee, which is chaired by the Prime Minister. The committee meets twice a year, and discusses each nomination. A number of factors are taken into account by the committee including length of service, level of achievement, and whether the contribution is of local, regional, national or international significance.
The committee aims to produce an honours list that takes into account regional spread, areas of endeavour, and gender balance.
