Dr Palatasa Havea and Valeti Finau have been named on New Zealand’s annual Honours List. Both honourees are Tongan born New Zealanders. The Honours List was released on New Year’s Eve 31 December by New Zealand’s Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Dr Palatasa Havea was recognized a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his contributions and services to the dairy industry and Pacific community in New Zealand. Dr Havea is a Senior Research Scientist at Fonterra Research and Development Centre and the current Chair of the Health Research Council Pacific Committee in Auckland.

Valeti Finau was recognized as an Honorary Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (Honorary MNZM) for her contributions and services to education and to the Pacific community in New Zealand. She is the founder and director of “Laulotaha”, a mentoring programme helping Pacific Island students achieve success in education. She was a foundation staff member of Whitireia Polytechnic where she set up the first tertiary Pacific Advisory Committee and established links with education providers in Pacific Island countries to provide New Zealand accredited programmes. She also set up the Tupou Tertiary Institute in Tonga to teach full time New Zealand accredited programmes.