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Photo caption:��Husband and wife Alan Gilmore and Pamela Kilmartin have received King’s Birthday Honours after working at UC’s Mt John Observatory in Tekapo for decades.��

Husband and wife and have worked at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | ���سԹ�’s Mt John Observatory in Tekapo for 34 years.

Their contribution to astronomy over decades has been recognised with both becoming Members of the New ���سԹ�Order of Merit this week. The couple have co-discovered 41 asteroids and a comet during their time at Mt John, while also hosting tours of the observatory for thousands of school children.��

Gilmore and Kilmartin became technicians at the ���سԹ� (UC) observatory in 1980, and although they officially retired in 2014, they continue to host alumni tours at the Mt John Observatory.

Gilmore says the honour came as a surprise. “It was nice to see New ���سԹ�astronomy getting a mention.�� We were delighted that it was awarded jointly, recognising that our work has been a collaborative effort over the past 50 years.”����

Former UC staff member has also been named a Member of the New ���سԹ�Order of Merit for her work as an advocate for the sustainable management of natural resources.��

Shand is a former UC lecturer who also served on the ���سԹ� Council for more than a decade. She was elected to the inaugural Canterbury Regional Council from 1989 until retiring in 2004 and now chairs the Forest and Bird Society’s North Canterbury Branch.

Thirteen UC graduates also received King’s Birthday Honours this year. They are:

Companions of the New ���سԹ�Order of Merit (CNZM):

, for services as a Member of Parliament and to governance. Hon. Ruth Richardson served as the Minister of Finance from 1990 to 1993 in the fourth National Government, the first woman to hold this portfolio. She served as a Director of the Reserve Bank of New ���سԹ�from 1999 to 2004 and is currently Chair of the New ���سԹ�Taxpayers Union.����

, for services to structural engineering. Professor Clifton is an internationally recognised authority on the structural and fire response of multi-storey steel framed buildings and their construction.

Officers of the New ���سԹ�Order of Merit (ONZM):��

, for services to cricket. Devine is the current captain of the New ���سԹ�women’s cricket team, the White Ferns. She was selected for the team in 2006 as a 17-year-old, becoming one of the youngest-ever members of the team. Last year she led the White Ferns to their first T20 World Cup title in the United Arab Emirates.��

, for services to fire safety technologies, business and the community. Percy established the Lower Hutt-based business Pertronic in 1982, which has produced fire detection, alarm and warning systems since 1986. He has been recognised by fire protection associations for his contributions as well as receiving multiple business and innovation awards.����

, for services to swimming. Power has dedicated more than 50 years to coaching and mentoring both coaches and swimmers at all levels and been instrumental in the success of some of New Zealand’s top swimmers and swim coaches.��

, for services to cycling, the cycling industry and business. Struthers has supported New ���سԹ�cycling since 1981 when he organised the country’s first major BMX meeting. He established the Avanti Bicycle Company, which sold more than 200,000 bikes in New Zealand, and exported worldwide.

Members of the New ���سԹ�Order of Merit (MNZM):

, for services to documentary filmmaking and migrant communities. Cottrell is a freelance documentary producer, journalist and oral historian. She was a TVNZ news reporter and a ‘Close Up’ current affairs director in the 1970s and 1980s.��

, for services to war commemoration and historical preservation. Strombom was a Major with the New ���سԹ�Army and initiated a country-wide initiative to clean and restore the abandoned graves or former service people. He has organised numerous headstone and plaque installations on unmarked graves nationwide.��

Dr , for services to health and Māori. Dr Mulholland (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa) is a prominent Māori academic who has been contributing to New ���سԹ�society through governance and education. He co-founded and is Chair of Patient Voice Aotearoa, which increases awareness of issues affecting patients.����

, for services to education and the community. McMillan (Kāi Tahu) was the Ministry of Education Southern Region Manager for schools and early childhood education from 2001 to 2009, working with staff, the Board of Trustees, students and whānau to improve students’ results and outcomes.

, for services to education. Elley has worked across primary, secondary and tertiary education for more than 30 years as a teacher and principal. As Principal of Pūtahi Belfast School from 2017 until her retirement in 2024, she led the change to a split-site school across two campuses.��

King’s Service Medal (KSM):

, for services to the community and the arts. Watson has been a member of the Kaiapoi Tuahiwi Community Board since 2010 and Chair since 2021 and has contributed to the Waimakariri district through arts and community initiatives.��

for services to the community and music. Perrin has contributed significantly to the Rotorua community since 1980, volunteering for the Rotorua Citizens’ Advice Bureau for more than 40 years. She has been a Justice of the Peace since 1997.