Dr Taku Parai, a respected kaumātua of Ngāti Toa Rangatira and longstanding advocate for Māori development in Porirua, has been appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for his services to Māori, governance, and the community.
The honour, announced in the New Year Honours list and celebrated at Government House, acknowledges Dr Parai’s decades of leadership across iwi, local government, and community organisations. A figure deeply rooted in his heritage, Dr Parai affiliates to Ngāti Toa, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Tama.
Dr Parai has chaired the Ngāti Toa Kaunihera Kaumātua, playing a key role in preserving iwi histories, genealogies, and revitalising Te Reo Māori through wānanga waka and wānanga reo. As former chair of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, he guided the iwi through its Treaty settlement and the formative years that followed, securing a future-focused foundation for Ngāti Toa.
He has also made a lasting impact on Porirua’s civic landscape, chairing the Porirua City Council’s Treaty Partnership Group and serving as its kaumātua and mana whenua representative. His leadership extended to environmental protection through the Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour and Catchment Joint Committee, where he advocated for sustainable guardianship of local waterways.
Dr Parai has been a central figure in fostering cultural understanding, regularly organising pōwhiri and sessions on Māori culture for schools, public agencies and the wider community. He is currently a kaumātua and advisor for Tu Ora Compass Health and has contributed to numerous organisations including Women’s Refuge, the Porirua RSA, the Royal New Zealand Police College, sports clubs, and educational institutions.
Speaking humbly of his award, Dr Parai acknowledged those who came before him:
“E kore, me kī, he tohu [mōku] anake. He tohu maumahara ki a rātou kei mua i a au. E tino mihi ana ki tō mātou nei whānau i manaaki, i tautoko.”
His enduring legacy is one of service, unity, and unwavering commitment to both iwi and city.