Monday, Auckland, June 6, 2016
Four members of the South Asian community are featured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List announced by the government last night.
They include Dr Pushpa Wood (Wellington), who has been appointed as Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to financial literacy and interfaith relations; Viduranga Aruna Abeygoonesekera (Wellington), who has been appointed as Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to the New Zealand, Nanette Nathoo (Auckland) and Dr Nadarajah Manoharan of Palmerston North for services to health, who will receive Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) for their services respectively to the Indian community and health sector.
Inspiring people
Congratulating the recipients, Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-liga described the recipients as ‘remarkable people,’ saying that they will inspire a new generation of young people to serve their ethnic communities.
Dr Pushpa Wood
Dr Wood is the Director of Westpac Massey Financial Education and Research Centre and Chair of the New Zealand Chapter of the World Council of Religion and Peace. She recently facilitated the Online Ethics Centre (OEC) Community Leadership Programme.
She is a regular contributor of columns and articles to Indian Newslink.
Viduranga Aruna Abeygoonesekera
Mr Abeygoonesekerais Senior Strategic Planner at Child, Youth and Family of Ministry of Social Development, covering Wellington and Wairarapa.
He was appointed Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in 2007 and has helped promote trade and economic relations between the two countries.
Nanette Nathoo
Nanette Nathoois apopular leader in the Indian community. She leads Indian women programmes and chairs the Law and Order Crime Prevention Committee of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Indian Central Association.
She was a Trustee of the Mahatma Gandhi Centre from 1999 to 2002.
Dr Nadarajah Manoharan
Dr Nadarajah Manoharanis an Otolaryngologist(Head & Neck Surgeon) based in Palmerston North. He worked as an ORL Consultant at Wanganui District Health Board from 1974 till 1982 and at Mid-Central Health Palmerston North from 1982 to 2013. He was Medical Head of the Department for 20 years and Clinical Director of Surgery for two years.
Dr Manoharan was involved in teaching and training junior doctors and advising regarding carrier pathways.
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