Board Chair Hayden Wano receives New Year Honour for services to Māori health
Te Hiringa Mahara congratulates our Board Chair Hayden Wano on being made a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order in the New Year’s Honours List 2023, for his service to Māori health.
The award reflects Mr Wano’s 40 years-plus health sector experience in mental health, community and medical services, as well as his numerous (health and non-health) governance roles and his role as Board Chair since our establishment.
Throughout his life Mr Wano has taken every opportunity to advocate for the voices of Māori in healthcare and carries on this mahi today by ensuring Te Hiringa Mahara plays an important role in the current transformation of the health system. As kaitiaki (guardian) of mental health and wellbeing, Te Hiringa Mahara works to ensure the voices of Māori and tāngata whaiora (people with lived experience of distress and addiction, substance, or gambling harm) can be heard and given prominence.
The New Zealand Royal Honours system is unique to New Zealand with candidates nominated by the community, and lists approved by the King of New Zealand on the Prime Minister’s advice for “going beyond the normal requirements of duty or office.”
In testament to the high regard in which Mr Wano and his mahi is held, a number of people wrote in support of the honour.