Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori and Engagement Professor Higgins was recognised for her contributions to Māori language, education, and governance. Professor Higgins is a leading language revitalisation expert, academic, and author, and has contributed to transforming the environment for the revitalisation of te reo Māori.

Her many governance and advisory roles include member of the Waitangi Tribunal, Board member of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, and the current Chair and Commissioner of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori—The Māori Language Commission, the first woman to be appointed to this position. She was elected as a Pacific Region representative on the Global Taskforce for the UNESCO International Decade of Indigenous Languages in 2021.

Her research area of expertise is Māori language planning and policy, and she was instrumental in shaping the current Māori language legislation and policy framework. In 2024, Professor Higgins won the Māori governance category of the 2024 Women in Governance Awards.

In her role as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori she is responsible for Āwhina—Māori Student Support, Ngā Mokopuna (formerly the Living Pā), Te Herenga Waka Marae, and strategic leadership for all things Māori across the University. In her role as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Engagement, she is responsible for alumni, donors and supporters, communications, marketing, rankings and reputation, the Adam Art Gallery, and Te Herenga Waka Press.

Also becoming a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit is Professor of Early Childhood Studies Carmen Dalli for services to education.

“I am grateful to have worked with incredibly passionate advocates for high quality early childhood education, so this honour also honours them. Additionally, the award acknowledges the unfailing support for my academic career from my family,” says Professor Dalli.

Professor Dalli joined Victoria University of Wellington in 1988 and was appointed Professor in 2011 in recognition of her impactful teaching, rigorous research, and contributions to the sector. She instigated the establishment of Victoria University’s Institute for Early Childhood Studies in the 1990s, was its director from 2001 to 2018, and contributed to the Institute’s research publications.

She has published close to 50 journal articles, 30 book chapters and edited five academic books. In the early 1990s, she co-developed a code of ethics for early childhood educators. She is a regular keynote speaker at international conferences and has shared her expert advice with review panels and working groups in Malta, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Sweden.

In New Zealand, Professor Dalli has been a member of the Ministry of Education’s Early Childhood Research Forum since 2008, a judge for the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards, a referee and advisor for the Education Review Office, and chaired the Ministerial Advisory Group that developed the 10-year Early Learning Action Plan—He Taonga Te Tamaiti.

Acting Vice-Chancellor, Provost Professor Bryony James, says it is a pleasure and a privilege to work with these two outstanding women.

“I am delighted to see their dedication and many contributions recognised this way. We are all proud of their sustained contributions to Te Herenga Waka, to education, and to transformative outcomes for our wider society.” .

We also acknowledge and congratulate our alumni, former staff and stakeholders of the University who have been recognised in the 2024 New Year Honours:

New Zealand Order of Merit

Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Kennie Tsui for services to the environment and governance.

Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

Dr Te Taku Parai for services to Māori, governance and the community.

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

Dale Bailey for services to education.

Susan Clement for services to education.

Ross Dunlop for services to local government.

Adele Mason for services to New Zealand-Asia relations.

Dr John McKoy for services to fisheries science and environment management.

Kirsten Patterson for services to governance and women.

Dr Hilary Smith for services to linguistics and the community.

The King’s Service Medal:

Neta Kerepati for services to survivors of abuse in care.