Last updated:
Friday, 31 December 2021
To be a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
FARRELLY, Mr Christopher Patrick Thomas (Chris)
For services to health and the community
Mr Chris Farrelly was founding CEO of the Primary Health Organisation (PHO) Manaia Health in Whangarei from 2003 to 2016 and recently retired after five years as Auckland City Missioner.
As Auckland City Missioner, Mr Farrelly led the development of the soon to be opened “Home Ground”, an innovative purpose-built healing facility to stand against homelessness, hunger, poor health and access to health care. Prior to his work at the Mission, he had long service in health in Te Tai Tokerau. Under his leadership, Manaia PHO achieved a significant Te Tiriti-based partnership between Māori Health providers, local hapu and General Practitioners. Recognising the social determinants of poor health and the role of social service agencies in health improvement, he was part of the formation of the Northland Intersectoral Forum, and was instrumental in initiating discussions with Fonterra that led to the establishment of the Milk in Schools programme. He was a founding member and Chair of the Te Tai Tokerau Healthy Homes Project, which has now insulated more than 12,000 homes, and helped establish two “one stop shop” youth initiatives. Mr Farrelly was an Executive Leadership Team member of the Northland DHB, serving in a range of health leadership roles between 1991 and 2003, including HIV-AIDS support and actively campaigning against discrimination on the grounds of health status, leading up to the Human Rights Act of 1993.
To be a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
GILLIES, Mr Robert Nairn
For services to Māori and war commemoration
Mr Robert Gillies is the last remaining member of the 28th Māori Battalion and served in B Company during World War 2 from 1942 to 1945, across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, and primarily in Italy.
Over more than 20 years, Mr Gillies has represented the men and service of the Battalion at national and international events. In addition to annual dawn and civic Anzac ceremonies, this has included many individual occasions including Ngarimu Scholarship presentations in Wellington and laying the wreath at the ceremony in Italy in 2019 to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Battles of Cassino. He was recognised as a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2019. He has been a Trustee of the 28th Māori Battalion B Company History Trust since 2013. He has been an active member of the Te Arawa Returned Services Association, holding several roles. He recently led the 75th anniversary celebration of the return of the B company to Tamatekapua in Rotorua following WW2. He has long been active with his iwi Ngāti Whakaue, and continues to work on the marae, maintain the war memorial, and participate in iwi affairs. Mr Gillies is a member of Waikite Rugby Club and was instrumental early on in establishing the current clubrooms.
To be a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
MANN, Professor Joel Ivor (Jim), CNZM
For services to health
Professor Jim Mann has pioneered research relating to non-communicable disease prevention and management at the University of Otago’s Departments of Medicine and Human Nutrition since 1988.
Professor Mann’s epidemiological and nutrition-related research, published in almost 400 scientific publications and 90 book chapters, has informed world-leading interventions in the fields of coronary heart disease and diabetes. He has led committees that have developed international and national guidelines for the management of obesity and diabetes, and cardiovascular disease risk assessment. Since 2015 he has been Director of Healthier Lives - He Oranga Hauora National Science Challenge, which aims to reduce the disease burden associated with four of New Zealand’s major non-communicable diseases and achieve equity of health outcomes for all New Zealanders. He is a Board Member of the Heart Foundation and previously served as Medical Advisor to Diabetes New Zealand, having contributed to the activities of both organisations for more than 30 years. He has been appointed by the World Health Organisation to lead and serve on numerous advisory groups and Centres, including the Collaborating Centre for Human Nutrition, the Nutritional Guidance Advisory Group and the Expert Advisory Panel on Nutrition. Professor Mann was the inaugural Director of the Edgar National Centre for Diabetes and Obesity Research, helping to raise more than $120 million in research funding, and is currently Co-Director.
HONOURS
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, Queen’s Birthday 2002
