Three Southlanders have been recognised in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours list. 

Rakiura Stewart Island conservationist and representative Margaret Anne Hopkins and Invercargill's health and Māori advocate Tracey Lee Wright-Tawha have both been made Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM). 

And Yvonne Mavis Officer, of Otatara, Invercargill, receives the Queen's Service Medal for her work in victim support. 

Advertisement: Otautau Four Square


Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern congratulated all the New Zealanders recognised for their contributions to their communities and the country in the list, released publicly today.

"This group represents decades of services across many areas, and those honoured highlight how many New Zealanders are going above and beyond for the benefits of us all," Ardern says. 

Margaret Anne Hopkins has been active in conservation and local government on Rakiura Stewart Island since the late 70s, a leading light in many notable achievements and projects.

Advertisement: Moss & Sons

She was a member of Stewart Island County Council from 1978 to 1990, chairperson of Stewart Island Community Board and a member of the Southland Conservation Board in the 1990s, and was appointed to the NZ Conservation Authority from 1999 to 2002, helping develop Rakiura National Park.

Most recently, as chair of the Rakiura Heritage Centre Trust, she has been involved with construction of Stewart Island’s $3.8 million Heritage Centre, which opened in 2020, playing a key role in driving the concept, planning and building of the centre, liaising with contractors and fundraising. 

Margaret Hopkins

Mrs Hopkins is also a volunteer with Halfmoon Bay Museum and a member of Stewart Island Rakiura Community Environment Trust, of which she has been Chair. 

She played a leading role in establishing the Ulva Island Marine Reserve and Paterson Inlet Mataitai, and was an active member of the Stewart Island Promotion Association, and the Stewart Island Community Centre Trust for 20 years, during the building and planning of the community centre. She's also been involved with Leadership Academy, established to develop the leadership potential of Stewart Island residents.

"I'm pleased and surprised and feel really quite humbled that people have nominated me, because I've always felt that I'm part of a team doing community things which I enjoy. 

Advertisement: Southtile

"I've lived here for 46 years now, I came from Christchurch originally and married a Stewart Islander. 

"I just really love the place, it's a very nice community to live in and it's been a great place to bring up our family. We're quite lucky that they've come back to live here on the island, so we've got grandchildren here as well.  

"They projects have all been great to be involved with, lots of hard work but rewarding to see the end result. The new museum is probably one of the major projects, and I'm really proud of my involvement in the creation of Rakiura National Park way back. 

"Stewart Island is a pretty special place and I think a lot of New Zealanders are discovering that, because we've been inundated with visitors in the past 12 months.

Advertisement: Te Anau Plumbing

"I'm really thankful to my family that I've had the luxury of being able to do so much community work, whereas other people had to work full time as well. I've been able to concentrate all my efforts into community work, especially the museum project. I'm actually feeling quite relaxed at the moment because life is nowhere near as busy as it has been in next few years."

Tracey Lee Wright-Tawha is the founder and CEO of Ngā Kete Matauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust (NKMPCT), which began in 2000 as an organisation focused on providing access to primary health care for people in western Southland.

Advertisement: Tower Lodge Motel

She's been involved in community development work since the mid-80s and worked for several years with Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu before establishing NKMPCT as a kaupapa Māori health and social service. 

Since 2000 she has built NKMPCT into a quality kaupapa Māori whanau ora centered health and social service, employing 74 staff with an annual turnover of $6.5 million. 

NKMPCT currently delivers a range of services including addiction counselling, gambling harm counselling, disability support and advocacy, Restorative Justice, Whanau Ora, community nursing services, cancer pathway support, and He Puna Waiora Wellness Centre general practice. 

Tracey Lee Wright-Tawha

Ms Wright-Tawha has served on a wide range of boards, research groups and advisory groups covering health issues from addiction to mental health, Māori governance and community boards such as Murihiku Māori Wardens, Māori Women’s Welfare League, development organisation He Oranga Pounamu, chairperson of Oraka Aparima Holdings Ltd, Trustee of Te Huarahi Ki Te Oranga Pai, and Treasurer of Waihopai Runaka among other roles and organisations.

"It was a huge shock, completely unexpected, I had no clue, no idea at all," Ms Wright-Tawha says.

"Somebody has been incredibly kind to nominate me, it's wonderful, overwhelming." 

Advertisement: Stihl Shop Invercargill

Ms Wright-Tawha says the honour is for the pioneers in health and social services who came before her and everyone who has supported her, along with her team and colleagues.

"It's a tribute to the people who 21 years ago, when I suggested this idea, wrapped themselves around me to support me in this journey of creating a kaupapa Māori health and social services that services everybody, but definitely with a Māori model of practice.

"I am eternally grateful to all those stalwarts who were there to guide and challenge, approve and disprove, and shape thinking along the way. 

Advertisement: Southland Home Ventilation

"This is an honour of many people's contribution and participation. I feel hugely honoured from that point of view, that it can provide a recognition of other people's work too."

Ms Wright-Tawha also paid tribute to her parents Douglas and Robyn Wright.

"They worked extremely hard to give us opportunities. My work ethic is role-modeled by wonderful, hard-working parents." 

Advertisement: Rabco Ag

Yvonne Officer has volunteered with Victim Support Invercargill for 25 years and continues to be on call to provide help day or night.

Mrs Officer has spent many hours attending training days to better support victims of suicide and assault and has supported victims in court during the legal processes. 

She has provided help to more than a thousand victims and families over 550 support assignments during her years of volunteering. 

Since 2011, she has volunteered as a support worker for St John at Kew Hospital in the Emergency Department (ED) and the Children’s Ward. 

Advertisement: Laser Electrical Gore

She has been the volunteer 2IC (second in charge) in the ED, providing assistance to lighten the load of nurses and allied staff and training new volunteers. She was Team Leader in the Children’s Ward until 2018, interviewing and training new volunteers and coordinating rosters. 

Mrs Officer has also delivered Meals on Wheels and fundraised for various other charities, particularly the Blind Foundation during collection days.

Joining Ms Officer in the QSM ranks is Elizabeth Margaret Steel for her services to the community of Tapanui, which just on the wrong side of the Otago / Southland boundary, near Gore.

Nationally, Dunedin ecologist Professor Carolyn Waugh Burns, CBE,was made a Dame, along withJudith Anne Kilpatrick, CNZM, Hinewehi Mohi, MNZM, and Ruia Mereana Morrison, MBE. 

Advertisement: Bombay Palace

"Alongside an incredible career as a musician and advocate for Te Reo Maori, Hinewehi Mohi’s work with music therapy is outstanding and has literally changed the lives of thousands of New Zealanders with disabilities," Jacinda Ardern said.

"Joining her are Professor Carolyn Burns, whose world-leading work on the ecology of lakes and lake health, is also an issue that is very close to the hearts of New Zealanders. 

"Judy Kilpatrick’s well-earned retirement comes after almost 50 years at the forefront of nursing education where her work has improved the lives of so many, while Ruia Morrison is honoured for her outstanding tennis career, including, in the 1950s, including being the first New Zealand woman to compete at Wimbledon." 

Michael Grenfell Daniell, Distinguished Professor William Alexander Denny, ONZM, Wayne Thomas Shelford, MBE, and Grahame Charles Sydney, ONZM, were all Knighted. 

Advertisement: Cruise Milford

"Mike Daniell exemplifies what is so good about many New Zealand businesses – finding a problem and using skills and expertise to provide a world-leading solution – which is just what Mike has led Fisher and Paykel Healthcare to become world-famous for. 

"Distinguished Professor William Denny’s work on anticancer drug research is globally praised as is the art of Grahame Sydney. 

"Buck Shelford is knighted for his contribution to rugby over many years as well as his extensive community work," Ardern said.

Advertisement: Fiordland Frontier Supplies

Jacinda Ardern also welcomed the recognition given to Sarah Stuart-Black (for services to emergency management), and to recently deceased Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull (for services to local government). 

“While I can only ever talk about a few individually, I hope all of those honoured today feel rightly proud of their achievements and, on behalf of all New Zealanders, I thank them for their work and sacrifice," Ardern said. 

Queen Elizabeth II established the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1996 as a unique New Zealand Order to recognise New Zealanders who have given meritorious service to the Crown and Nation, or have become distinguished by their contribution to their individual fields. 

Appointments are limited per annum.