16 Pasifika people recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours List

Wellington: Dr Colin Tukuitonga heads the list of Pacific recipients in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for 2022.

This year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours coincide with the celebrations of Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years as monarch, so have been renamed the Queen’s Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours.

Dr Tukuitonga has received the Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Pacific and public health.

Sir Colin joins 16 Pacific people also recognised for their contributions to health, education, sport, the arts and many other sectors.

Sir Colin is Associate Dean Pacific and Associate Professor of Public Health at the University of Auckland. He has been active in the COVID-19 response information, particularly for the Pasifika community. Sir Colin said he is humbled to have been nominated.

“I wasn’t aware that this was happening, so it’s a humbling experience,” he said.

“I’m thankful to be acknowledged, I should also say that it’s not just myself, I think it’s an acknowledgement of all the people involved and I’m just fortunate to have been nominated - there are lots of people in our community who do the work day and day out.”

Sir Colin plans on celebrating his achievement with his children but hopes to be able to visit Niue soon.

Leaupepe Luteru Ross Poutoa Lote-Taylor has also been honoured for services to cricket and Pacific communities.

Leaupepe retired from cricket and signed off as New Zealand’s most successful test batsman, with 7683 runs including 19 centuries from 112 matches between 2007 and 2022, with a batting average of 44.66 runs.