Soana
Aholelei, RNZ Pacific Journalist
The New
Year 2026 Honours List for Aotearoa includes eight
Pasifika recipients this year.
Leading the accolades
for the Member of The New Zealand Order of Merit MNZM is All
Blacks great Saveatama Eroni Clarke for services to the
Pacific community and rugby.
He is recognised for his
continuing services to rugby, Pacific leadership and mental
health services.
“This
is such a humbling moment for me to even accept an award
like this I mean it’s something that we’ve been handled the
mantle from our previous generations to take on and run with
it,” Saveatama said.
He said he is grateful for the
acknowledgement and owes it all to his family especially his
wife Siala.
“She’s been my right arm, she’s been my
strength and my children have been the source of my
motivation and my focus and for me I live and breathe them,”
Saveatama said.
Also receiving the MNZM are Mrs
Mokafetu Smith for Services to Pacific Art and Jade Carlo
Farrar for services to people with disabilities and the
Pacific community.
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“For me it’s an acknowledgement
that there is amazing insight, talent and skill within the
disability community we have a lot to offer and we can have
a positive impact on the future, that’s what it means to
me,” an emotional Jade Carlo Farrar said.
The fourth
recipient for the MNZM is Professor Tracie Mafile’o from
Palmerston North who was recognised for contributions to
Pacific and tertiary education.
“This is an
encouragement I think to keep me going, it’s an affirmation
of the work not only that I do but that others do in the
space of working with and for our Pasifika spaces and
community,” Professor Mafile’o said.
Pasifika
recipients of the King’s Service Medal KSM this year
are:
Ms Aere Anne Nicholas for services to the
community.
Sailauama Cheryl Talamaivao for services to
the Pacific community and education.
Reverend Wayne
Saunoa Moegagogo Toleafoa for services to the Pacific
community.
And Mrs Enatuleni Ikitoa Polima for
services to the Niuean
community.
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