Tahi Takao awarded Queen's Service Medal

June 6th, 2011

Motueka man Tahi Takao JP has been awarded the Queen's Service Medal in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours, announced today, for services to Maori.

Tahi Takao (Tuhoe), aged 82, has lived in Motueka since 2005. He is a kaumatua and member of the Nelson/Marlborough DHB, and he is also the Maata Waka representative on the Tau Ihu Iwi Health Board. Tahi has been in the health arena for a number of years, having had experience in mental health, alcohol and drug, older people's health and many other facets of the health system, both primary and secondary health.

To date he has served a total of well over 50 years in the public service, about 40 years with the Post Office/Telecom, 2 years in the NZ Army in Korea during the Korean War, 2 years in the Department of Social Welfare as a cultural advisor, 14 years in the primary and secondary health as a cultural advisor/kaumatua.

Tahi has served on numerous committees and advisory groups including a number of national organisations. He has been a Justice of the Peace for nearly 30 years and served on the Rolleston District Prison Parole Board for 6 years, and has been a board member of the National Maori Mens Health Coalition.

Tahi says he is very passionate about the inferior status of Maori Mens health because of his knowledge of the problem areas that need to be addressed in order for better health outcomes for Maori men. Tahi has 6 children, 28 grandchildren, and a growing number of great-grandchildren. He considers himself, priviledged and blessed to be still around to share quality time with them.

Comment by Ron Sharp:
[Posted 7 June 2011]

It is a double honour for Motueka to hear of this award for Tahi, because he has chosen to adopt us as his Turangawaewae. His fatherly care extends not only to his Whanau but also to the Iwi of our district and to the Tauiwi (pakeha residents). Congratulations, Tahi!

>> , to be added to the page. [If this link doesn't work, use this form instead]

[ Return ]
[ Other news articles ]