Service recognised

Achievements in education, boxing, the police and the Pacific Islands community are behind the awarding of five other Queen's Birthday honours to Manukau.

Stuart Alan Middleton, Remuera

Manukau Institute of Technology's external relations director has been appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education.

Dr Middleton has been a moving force behind MIT's Pasifika development programmes and its recently opened tertiary high school.

During more than 40 years in education, he's taught at many south Auckland schools, was principal at Aorere College and chairman of the City of Manukau Education Trust.

He's chaired the Otara Development Trust and been involved with the Counties Manukau Sports Trust, Project K Manukau and Tomorrow's Manukau.

Dr Middleton is chairman of the board of Manukau Leisure Services, a member of the College of Education accreditation committee and is a judge for the New Zealand Educational Journalism Awards.

Patrick Eamonn Leonard, Totara Park

Pat Leonard is appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sport, especially boxing.

Mr Leonard has been a fight judge since 1975 and was instrumental in getting international recognition for the New Zealand Professional Boxing Association, of which he's a life member. In 2008, he was appointed as New Zealand representative on the World Boxing Organisation Asia Pacific board and became Australasia regional supervisor.

Foufou Susana Hukui, Papatoetoe

Well-known Niuean broadcaster Foufou Susana Hukui receives a Queen's Service Medal for services to the Pacific Islands community.

The first presenter of TV's Tagata Pasifika, she's also provided Niuean language programmes for many years on Niu FM, Radio 531pi and at the Pacific Media Network.

Mrs Hukui is actively involved with Vagahau Niue and other Niuean language and culture programmes and provides a daily weekday news bulletin to Niue through Radio NZ International.

Siale Afuhia Lilo, Mangere East

Methodist lay preacher Siale Afuhia Lilo of Mangere East is also awarded a Queen's Service Medal for services to the Pacific Islands community.

Mrs Lilo is the Mangere Tongan Methodist Church representative to the Tongan synod within the Methodist Church of New Zealand and a parish council member.

She is a member of the Manukau City Council's Pacific Island Advisory Committee, president of the Tonga-New Zealand Leiti Association and a volunteer at the Mangere Citizens Advice Bureau.

Mrs Lilo helped organise a prayer meeting for those lost in the Princess Ashika sinking in July 2009 and three shipping containers of relief supplies for Samoa after the September 2009 tsunami.

Bruce William Bird, Cockle Bay

Inspector Bruce Bird is awarded his Queen's Service Medal for services to the police as Counties Manukau west area commander.

Since 2004 he's introduced a wide range of policing improvements to provide long-term solutions to gang and family violence, and alcohol-related disorder.

Mr Bird was also security liaison officer for the New Zealand team at the Beijing Olympics and has coached at the Pakuranga Rugby Club for 12 years, the last three as under-21s head coach.

- © Fairfax NZ News