Business School alumni receive honours in 2025

To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

METCALFE, Mr Matthew Christian
For services to the film industry

Mr Matthew Metcalfe is a leading film producer who over two decades has championed stories of New Zealand people and culture, particularly projects for the Māori and Pacific Island population.

Mr Metcalfe has made more official New Zealand co-productions than any other New Zealand producer, including working with Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Australia, furthering New Zealand’s cultural and business interests internationally.

He was instrumental in bringing Ingenious Media, Universal Pictures, XYZ Films and AMC Network’s Shudder into the New Zealand market. His production credits include films and documentaries on iconic New Zealanders, such as ‘Beyond the Edge 3D’ on Sir Edmund Hillary, ‘McLaren’ on Bruce McLaren, ‘Born Racer’ on Scott Dixon and ‘Whina’ on Dame Whina Cooper.

Many of the films he has produced have reached global audiences and screened at film festivals such as the Toronto and Sundance Film Festivals. He produced ‘The Dead Lands’, the first action film entirely spoken in te reo Māori, and the follow up television show broadcast in the United States. He produced the 2021 film ‘Dawn Raid’ on the New Zealand/Polynesian record label and the animated feature ‘25 April’ about the Gallipoli landing. Mr Metcalfe has helped directors such as Toa Fraser and Leanne Pooley build their careers and has been a member of several film industry committees.

Matthew graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1996 majoring in Management Studies and Labour Relations.

To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

KINGI, Ms Tania Phillippa
For services to Māori and people with disabilities

Ms Tania Kingi (Ngāti Pukeko, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Whakahemo, Ngāti Mākino, Ngāi Tai) is a disability rights advocate and leader in the social, health and disability sectors in Auckland.

Ms Tania Kingi builds connections and partnerships, raises awareness and creates change, particularly for Māori with disabilities (whānau hauā). Since 2004, she has been Chief Executive at Te Roopu Waiora, a kaupapa Māori consumer organisation supporting whānau hauā through wellness services, where she helps to reestablish connections with their whānau, hapū, iwi and communities. She has served on numerous boards, committees and charities, including the New Zealand Blood Service, Charities Commission, Whānau Ora Regional Leadership Group, Disability Committee to Auckland Council, the Accident Compensation Corporation’s Rā Mātua Panel and the Ministry of Social Development’s national complaints panel.

A former member on expert advisory panels to the Chief Ombudsman, and the National Equity Steering Group for Te Whatu Ora since 2022, she is a member of Ngaa Pou Hauora o Tāmaki Makaurau Iwi Māori Partnership Board. She is an active member of Taumata Kōrero, a group of 15 Māori Chief Executives providing social services in Auckland.

Ms Kingi is helping to recover understanding of traditional Māori concepts of disability and is currently completing a Doctorate of Indigenous Advancement in traditional Māori responses to disability.

Tania graduated with a Diploma in Business in 1996 majoring in Māori Development.
 

To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

LI, Ms Lisa
For services to the tourism industry

Ms Lisa Li contributed to the development of New Zealand’s tourism industry for more than 20 years.

Ms Li established the New Zealand branch of China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Ltd. in 2000 to handle ground arrangements for Chinese tourists. She has grown China Travel Service (NZ) Ltd. into one of the premier China specialists for inbound Chinese tourists to New Zealand. She is active in Auckland’s business and Chinese communities, as a founding member and serving on the Executive Board of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand since 2005, during which she has contributed to building the New Zealand-China bilateral economic relationship, along with raising more than $200,000 for local charities.

Ms Li has been appointed to numerous boards over the past 15 years, including as a member of the government’s Tourism Futures Task Force Advisory Board, Co-Chair of New Zealand Asian Leaders, the Advisor of the Superdiversity Institute in New Zealand, the Tourism Export Council New Zealand Board and Advisory Board of Manukau Police.

Lisa graduated with a Master of International Business in 2002.

To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

MEE, Mrs Victoria Mary (Vicky)
For services to women and business

Mrs Vicky Mee advocates for women and girls in spheres such as pay equity, board and executive representation, and employee recruitment at local, national and international levels through roles with several organisations.

Mrs Mee has been involved with Business and Professional Women New Zealand (BPWNZ) since 2009, initially through the Franklin branch. She is a Past President of BPWNZ from 2014 to 2017 and has worked on policy development in conjunction with other countries to present to the United Nations General Assembly.

As BPWNZ President, she oversaw hosting of the Asia Pacific Regional Conference in 2016 and organised three annual conferences for New Zealand. She is currently chairing the BPW International Resolutions Committee. She was a member from 2013 to 2021 and Chair from 2016 to 2020 of the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles New Zealand Committee. She led a successful campaign for more businesses to sign up to the seven UN Women’s Empowerment Principles.

She has had a long-term involvement with Mai Lighthouse (formerly Franklin Family Support Services) as a budgeter and financial mentor. She mentors those in hardship starting businesses through the Generator Programme in conjunction with Emerge Aotearoa. Mrs Mee has volunteered with Christian Community Care, is a member of Pacific Women’s Watch and Pay Equity Coalition Auckland.

Victoria graduated with a Diploma in Business majoring in Marketing in 1995.