Pacific Changemakers Acknowledged in New Year Honours
Pacific excellence across diverse fields is being recognised in the 2026 New Year Honours, with eight Pacific leaders and community advocates included among 177 award recipients nationwide.
Their work spans a broad range of sectors, from education and disability advocacy to sport, faith, cultural leadership, language preservation, and social justice. Many of those honoured have expressed genuine surprise at the announcement, viewing the recognition as a reflection of shared community effort.
Saveatama Eroni Clarke
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the Pacific community and rugby
Former All Black Saveatama Eroni Clarke, who received a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his service to rugby and the Pacific community, told PMN News he was “absolutely surprised,” noting that the honour belongs not just to him, but to the collective work of those he serves.
Saveatama has made major headway for Pasifika in rugby, with the NZ Pacific Rugby Council now an affiliate body of the NZR.
Jade Carlo Farrar
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to people with disabilities and the Pacific community
Jade Carlo Farrar has been a leading voice for Pacific disabled communities from a young age, beginning his advocacy work as a teenager. He went on to establish PHAB Pasifika, an organisation that creates pathways for Pacific disabled youth to build leadership skills and participate in decision making.
His influence has extended into national policy through his role as Chair of the National Leadership Group for Enabling Good Lives. Through this work, Farrar has contributed to system changes affecting thousands of disabled people and their families, consistently grounding national reform in community-led approaches.
Professor Tracie Ailong Mafileʻo
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Pacific and tertiary education
Professor Tracie Ailong Mafileʻo is a highly respected academic whose career spans more than 30 years across Pacific education, research, and social work. Her work has been influential both in Aotearoa and internationally, particularly in advancing Pacific-led research methodologies and culturally grounded practice.
As a co-founder of Mana Pacific Consultants, she has supported organisations to embed Pacific values into policy and service delivery. Her extensive publications and teaching have helped shape how tertiary institutions engage with Pacific learners and communities, reflecting a lifelong commitment to education shaped by family and cultural foundations.
Aere Anne Nicholas
King’s Service Medal for services to the community
Aere Anne Nicholas has been recognised for long-standing service to communities in Auckland, particularly South Auckland. Her work has focused on advocacy, welfare, and community leadership, with a strong emphasis on supporting Pacific and Māori whānau.
Since 2003, she has volunteered with numerous organisations including health charities, social service providers, local marae, and the Ōtara Citizens Advice Bureau. She has also been deeply involved in cultural events, serving for more than 20 years as a presenter and judge at ASB Polyfest. Alongside this, she continues to contribute through governance roles and her work as a Justice of the Peace.
Enatuleni Ikitoa Polima
King’s Service Medal for services to the Niuean community
Enatuleni Ikitoa Polima has devoted much of her life to strengthening Niue language, culture, and community wellbeing. Her work spans early childhood education, elder support, language revitalisation, and community broadcasting.
She was instrumental in establishing the Vagahau Niue Trust and supporting Niue language nests across Aotearoa. For more than 30 years, she has also been a familiar voice within the Niuean community through Radio Pekapeka, using media as a tool to connect, inform, and preserve cultural identity.
Mokafetu Smith (Matafetu Smith)
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Pacific art
Mokafetu Smith, also known as Matafetu Smith, is a Niue artist and weaver who has dedicated decades to the preservation and sharing of Pacific and Māori weaving traditions. Active since the early 1980s, she has played a significant role in building national weaving networks and strengthening the visibility of Niue art forms.
She founded Tufuga Mataponu a Niue and has led exhibitions, workshops, and teaching programmes across the country. Alongside her creative practice, Smith has contributed to arts governance and mentorship, continuing to pass on weaving knowledge from her home to ensure cultural practices are carried forward to future generations.
Sailauama Cheryl Talamaivao
King’s Service Medal for services to the Pacific community and education
Sailauama Cheryl Talamaivao has worked across education, justice, and community safety for over four decades. As a senior lecturer and Justice of the Peace, she has played a key role in helping Pacific communities navigate public systems while advocating for culturally informed approaches.
Her leadership reflects the values of service and responsibility passed down through generations of Pacific migrant families. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to community empowerment, seeing both challenges and opportunities as part of collective progress.
The Reverend Wayne Saunoa Moegagogo Toleafoa
King’s Service Medal for services to Pacific communities
Reverend Wayne Toleafoa is a long-serving church and community leader whose work spans faith, social justice, and advocacy. A former Polynesian Panther, his leadership journey began in the 1970s and has included roles as a church minister and military chaplain.
Across decades of service, he has remained committed to uplifting Pacific communities through faith-based leadership and social action. His work reflects a belief in justice, compassion, and humility as guiding principles for community life and collective responsibility.