A Tongan-New Zealander businessman, producer and actor Stan Carl Wolfgramm (50) has been awarded the prestigious New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to the arts and the Pacific community in New Zealand

He was made a “Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM)” in the Queen's New Year Honours List for 2015.

Stan said he was very honoured to be appointed the order, “...it represents a lot of work and a lot of people that I have worked with over a long period of time, very much about establishing New Zealand’s Pacific identity, establishing a voice for Pacific people in New Zealand.

“When I got the award I took it and showed it to my father and he was very proud. I’m very proud to be a Tongan, I’m very proud to have this honour and I realise that this honour acknowledges what I’ve done but it also acknowledges the support that I’ve had in the Pacific community and acknowledges the Tongan community that has supported me for the work that I have done.”

 The Auckland born Stan is widely acknowledged as a pioneer in the arts for Pacific Islanders, and is known for his work in television and live events.

He is the founder of “Drum Productions” the first Pacific Islander owned and operated independent production company in New Zealand and for 17 years he produced and directed the Style Pasifika NZ Fashion Awards. “It became the world’s largest indigenous fashion show. It was all about Pasifika. Pacific inspiration, Pacific design and Pacific fashion,” he said.

Stan created and led six seasons of the mainstream television show ‘Pacific Beat St’. He also produced and directed the opening inaugural pacific galleries at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, the opening event of the 12,000 seat Vector Arena and the openings of the 34th and 42nd Pacific Islands Leaders Forums hosted by New Zealand. He is currently tasked by Auckland City to restructure and produce the annual Pacific Festival, the world’s largest Pacific Festival.

“A lot of the work we do now is about connecting the Pacific communities in New Zealand to Pacific communities in the Pacific. It’s all about identity but it also about realising potential  for Pacific people in New Zealand and around the world to connect more with their families and relations in the Pacific.”

Stan described his career choice “I’m a Tongan, Cook Islander, German and Palangi New Zealander. So for me it was always difficult, it was like what am I and where do I fit? So it was always about finding out who I am and so I pretty much got involved in the arts and theatre.”

He has directed short films, and during the 90’s he played roles in popular TV series such as Shortland Street and Xena: Warrior Princess.

“I would like to do more Tongan stories. I did a short film called Dot’s Death, ...and I would like to do more films more stories to Tongans or with Tongans.”

When asked about challenges facing the Pacific Community in New Zealand, Stan stated, “I think there’s a lot of people who are not Pasifika who are making decisions for Pacific people. I think in a lot of ways they should let go and actually hand a bit of responsibility to Pacific people…on the other hand there are some Pacific people out there leading that are maybe not good leaders and they really need to realise that leadership is not about getting across the line first, it’s about actually helping others to get across the line....”

QSO

Also named in the Queen's New Year's Honours List for 2015 was Judge Anthony David Ford, of Wellington, who was appointed as a Companion of the Queen's Service Order (QSO) for services to Tonga and the judiciary.