King's Birthday Honours 2024

Arihia Bennett and Jane Cartwright have been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours 2024 

Arihia Bennett has been appointed Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori, governance and the community. The first woman and the longest serving Chief Executive Officer of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Arihia oversaw the growth of iwi finances and assets amounting to more than $1.9bn. Under her leadership, Ngāi Tahu worked with the government and City Council to assist with the response to the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes and the 2019 Christchurch terrorist attack, and in 2021 Arihia was appointed as Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Group to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack. She has also served on the Boards of Barnardos and the Christchurch Women’s Refuge (now Aviva).

Jane Cartwright has been appointed Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to health governance. An experienced chair and director in health, disability and education, Jane has been dedicated to advocacy for those on the margins who find it difficult to access health services. She oversaw the opening of Hillmorton Hospital, to provide specialist psychiatric and mental health services, and the movement of residents from Templeton Hospital into the community or into Brackenridge Estate. She has created and funded several new Health Manager roles for Consumers, Māori, Pacific and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities, and as Executive Officer of the New Zealand Breastfeeding Alliance has led the Alliance in becoming more effective national advocates.

Congratulations to Arihia and Jane for this well deserved recognition.