The man who has helped make millions of dollars for South Island iwi Ngai Tahu has been knighted.
Mark Solomon has helped grow the asset base of the iwi to more than $500 million with investments in property, fisheries and tourism.
Sir Mark, who was awarded the knighthood for services to Maori and business, has been the chair of Ngai Tahu's tribal council Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu since 1998.
He is also also a Te Papa board member.
Others were also recognised in the New Year's Honours for their work for Maori in education, arts and pathology.
Keri Ngapera Kaa, Turoa Royal and Professor Linda Smith were made Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Ms Kaa, who is a a writer and has been involved in film and dance, was honoured for services to Maori and arts.
She was a senior lecturer in Maori studies at the Wellington College of Education.
Mr Royal, who helped set up a consortium for the educational advancement of indigenous communities, was honoured for services to education.
The World Indigenous Network Higher Education Consortium helped people from the United States, Canada, Australia, Columbia, Taiwan and New Zealand.
He was also the foundation director of Whitireia Community Polytechnic and the founding chief executive of Te Wananga o Raukawa tertiary institution.
Prof Smith, who was honoured for services to Maori and education, is the pro vice-chancellor Maori at Waikato University, the dean of the School of Maori and Pacific Development and director of the Te Kotahi Research Institute.
She has been a teacher, school counsellor, researcher and writer on Maori education.
Dr David Taylor was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to pathology and Maori.
He worked as a pathologist from the late 1960s, providing culturally sensitive post-mortem services to iwi around Rotorua. He often worked outside regular hours so bodies could be released to families as soon as possible.
NZN
