Rodney Times: Honours for high-achieving Kiwis

Two of Sir Hugh Kawharu's five daughters have followed in his footsteps, receiving New Year honours.

Margaret and Merata Kawharu have both been made Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Maori.

They are affiliated to Ngati Whatua and Ngapuhi and have strong ties to the Reweti Marae west of Waimauku.

The sisters are among eight New Year honours recipients in Rodney.

Margaret from Reweti has made a significant contribution through her advocacy and work with Ngati Whatua o Kaipara and is heavily involved with its $22.1 million Treaty of Waitangi settlement, signed at Shelly Beach in September last year.

"My achievements with the treaty settlements are because of and working together with Ngati Whatua o Kaipara and if the light shines on this part of Ngati Whatua because of what we've achieved then I'm happy," Margaret says.

"I've been mentored and supported by the whanau all the way truly. And the footsteps were already there in the words of those of our ancestors who had gone before my father pointed that out to me long ago. The next journey will be the telling one."

Associate professor Merata Kawharu, now in Dunedin, was honoured for her services to Maori education. The Auckland University James Henare Maori Research Centre director has written extensively on Maori development and the Resource Management Act's impact.

Merata published Whenua: Managing Our Resources, shortlisted for the Montana Book Awards in 2003. She also received Marsden Fund Awards in 2000 and 2010. Merata has contributed to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and the Maori Heritage Council as well.

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