King’s Honour for Reverend Bill Nathan Recognises Lifetime of Service to Māori

Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network proudly acknowledges Reverend William Charles Nathan, OBE, ED, who has been appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List for his services to Māori. 

This national honour recognises a lifetime of service that has profoundly shaped not only Māori cultural life in Aotearoa but also the bicultural foundation of Hauora Taiwhenua. 

Bill recently retired from his role as Kaumātua and Chair of Te Rōpū Ārahi, Hauora Taiwhenua’s Tiriti o Waitangi partner group. His contribution has been transformational, guiding our kaupapa, helping establish a Tikanga-led governance structure, and supporting our journey toward authentic and enduring partnership. 

Through his steady presence and deep knowledge of Te Ao Māori, Bill helped Hauora Taiwhenua to re-envision itself, not as a symbolic expression of biculturalism, but as an organisation meaningfully grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. With patience and integrity, he led efforts to embed tikanga into our everyday practices, from internal processes to national conferences. This was never a performative exercise; it was a sincere and deliberate commitment to building an enduring, respectful, and genuine foundation. 

Every word of wisdom, every quiet kōrero, every moment of humour or kindness – each has helped weave a kaupapa that genuinely reflects the spirit of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 

Incoming HTRHN Kaumātua Peter Jackson said, “These honours are in recognition of a lifetime of service to Māori in the Wellington region. Matua Bill, alongside his sweetheart Whaea Donas, have been stalwarts and leaders of Ngāti Poneke and have played a vital role in showcasing Maoritanga here in Wellington and around the world. Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network has benefited from their professionalism and leadership in the Māori cultural space.  E tino koa ana te ngākau kua ahukahukaina ēnei taonga e te Kāwanatanga.” 

To Bill Nathan – tēnei te mihi maioha ki a koe. Your legacy lives on not just in the structures and policies of Hauora Taiwhenua, but in the wairua of everything we do. We are better for having walked this path with you.