Five east Auckland locals who have made major contributions in their respective fields have been acknowledged in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List. Leading businesswoman Ranjna Patel has been named a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DNZM) for services to ethnic communities, health and family violence prevention. The honours citation states the Sunnyhills resident is a multi-award-winning leader and advocate for community well-being, whose initiatives have made a lasting impact across New Zealand. “In 2014, Ms Patel co-founded Gandhi Nivas, an innovative early intervention service supporting men at risk of committing family harm. “To date, it has helped more than 6,000 families in Auckland. “A five-year study concluded in 2020 showed a 60 per cent non-recidivism rate among a cohort of 900 participants. She has consulted on similar services overseas. “She established Mana 4 Mums in 2019 to support pregnant Māori and Pacific women under the age of 23 in South Auckland. “The service has provided holistic, wrap-around care to more than 1,600 women until their children reached 15 months of age. “In 2023, she co-founded the Swaminarayan Complex, a multicultural community centre in Auckland promoting connection and offering programmes for seniors, women, and children. “She has held numerous governance roles, including deputy chair of Diversity Works New Zealand, Mental Health Foundation board member, executive trustee of Total Healthcare and NACEW, and chair of Indian Ink Theatre Company. “She is patron of New Zealand Police recruit wing 330. “She co-founded Tāmaki Health in 1977, which has grown to become New Zealand’s largest privately owned primary healthcare group, now serving more than 330,000 patients. “Ms Patel was the first person of Indian origin to be inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in 2024 and the first woman to receive the Kiwibank Innovator of the Year award in 2021.” Dame Ranjna was previously appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2017 and received a Queen’s Service Medal in 2009. Professor Charles Clifton has been named a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to structural engineering. The honours citation states the Howick resident is an internationally recognised authority on the structural and fire response of multi-storey steel framed buildings and their construction. As structural engineer at HERA (Heavy Engineering Research Association) in Auckland from 1983-2007, he established the structural steel service at a time when the use of steel in multi-level buildings was almost non-existent. “He has made significant contributions to standards, guidelines and research programme development in the steel industry. “His focus has been on making steel-framed buildings not just safe during seismic events but also durable to make structures reusable. “From his innovations, notably the sliding hinge joint, buildings can remain serviceable and not require demolition following a seismic event. “The sliding joint concept is now used extensively nationally and internationally. “His contributions have been significant in the rise in use of steel in high-rise structures, with the majority of Canterbury rebuild structures utilising steel frames. “He helped form what is now Steel Construction New Zealand. “He’s currently professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Auckland, having been associate professor from 2007. “Professor Clifton has had a role on the Expert Advisory Group to the NIST National Fire Research Laboratory in Washington, United States, is widely published, and a sought-after international presenter and visiting professor.” Laurinne Laing has been named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sports and people with intellectual disabilities. The Mellons Bay resident has volunteered for the Special Olympics Howick-Pakuranga club for 35 years. She supports it by volunteering 30-40 hours per week with sports co-ordination, fundraising, volunteer and athlete recruitment, as well as through guidance to athletes and their families. “The club offers seven sports, holds ribbon days and regional games each year for members of the community with an intellectual disability,” the honours citation states. “She’s served as the club’s chair since 2007, and is also the deputy chair and fundraising sub-committee chair of the Special Olympics Upper North Island Regional Trust. “She supports other chairs to set up new clubs, to understand Special Olympics New Zealand procedures, and learn how to apply for funding and run events. “Through the fundraising efforts she leads, the club can send an athlete to the Special Olympics World Summer Games every four years, teams to Special Olympics New Zealand national games every four years and the regional trust can send approximately 40 athletes and volunteers for annual snow sports events in Wānaka. “Her organisation ensures airfares, transport, on mountain training and accommodation needs are met. “In 2013 Mrs Laing led a team of ten-pin bowlers to the Trans-Tasman Games in Cairns.” Julia Castles has received the King’s Service Medal for services to language education and migrant communities. The Mellons Bay resident has worked for more than 42 years to provide English language tuition and settlement support to refugees and migrants in south Auckland. The honours citation states she was instrumental in helping start one of the first English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services in New Zealand, in 1988. “Starting with one-on-one home tutoring, this soon moved to include group classes. “She helped co-ordinate and train local volunteers and worked to raise funds for classrooms and qualified ESOL teachers. “To make English learning opportunities widely available, she negotiated arrangements to offer ESOL classes in local libraries and churches, and as the region has grown she’s continued to approach community venues to set up classes in new housing areas. “She spends many hours outside of her paid time, helping refugees and migrants to navigate health, education and social services, securing venues for classes, and applying for funding. “She’s developed community outreach events, tailored language classes for specific purposes, and has implemented a Road Code course for refugees and new migrants. “Mrs Castles has served as a board member of the National Association of ESOL Home Tutor Schemes.” Pene Frost has received the King’s Service Medal for services to children and social work. The Bucklands Beach resident has been Auckland regional manager for Stand Children’s Services – Tū Maia Whānau (Stand Tū Maia) since 2002, having been involved with Stand Children’s Services in various roles since 1978. The honours citation states she’s mentored many new Māori, Pacific and overseas social work students from Sweden and Germany into the social work profession. “She’s practiced in roles including residential social work, family social work and as a parent educator, trainer and manager, with her team having worked with more than 8,000 vulnerable children in Auckland over 20 years. “She has maintained a relationship with Panmure Medical Centre to support the health needs of tamariki. “She is a member of the East Health Trust PHO, the Otahuhu Oranga Tamariki Care and Protection Panel, and the Social Work Stakeholders’ Advisory Group at Manukau Institute of Technology. “She has been a guest speaker for various community service groups, sharing the work of Stand Tū Maia outside of her usual work hours. “She has been recognised with service awards from Rotary and Zonta for her contributions. “Mrs Frost has also been involved with Pakuranga Masonic Lodge.”