2014 New Year Honours: Top 10 profiles

DAME TRELISE COOPER DNZM
Her international fashion business flagship has 10 boutiques worldwide and more than 200 stockists in Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East and Australasia. She has used her design skills to raise money for Domestic Violence in the Home and Odyssey House. In 2004, she was one of the t-shirt designers for Breast Cancer Research Trust and became patron in 2007. She has a strong involvement with Habitat for Humanity, including leading a team to build a house at New Zealand Fashion Week in 2009 for a South Auckland family and leading a team of New Zealanders to build houses in Thailand. In 2012 she became patron of Auckland RSA, the first woman to hold the position. She sponsors Tomorrows Foundation, a slum children’s charity in Kolkata, India.

DAME ALISON PATERSON DNZM
She has extensive experience in corporate governance going back to the 1970s. She was the first woman to be named QBE Chairperson of the Year at the Deloitte/Management Magazine Top 200 Awards in 2010. In 2013 she was appointed chairwoman of Crown Irrigation Investment and to the Health Quality and Safety Commission. She also chairs Farm IQ, Gravida: the National Centre for Growth and Development, Best Practice Advocacy Centre New Zealand, Stevenson Agriculture and New Zealand Formulary. 
She is a director of Vector and received the supreme award in governance at the 2013 Women in Governance Awards. Past appointments include directorships of Landcorp Farming, Abano Healthcare, the Reserve Bank, PGG Wrightson and Health Benefits.


SIR ROBERT (BOB) PARKER KNZM
Sir Robert was mayor of Christchurch from 2007-13 and led the city through the earthquakes of September 2010 and February 2011, during which time he fronted the the ensuing civil emergencies to local and international media. He was mayor of Banks Peninsula from 2001-06 and became its representative on the Christchurch City Council after amalgamation. Before becoming involved in local body politics, Sir Bob had a career in broadcasting, particularly as the original host of the show This is Your Lif’ from 1984-96.

SIR PETER VELA KNZM
Founded Vela Fishing with his brother Philip in 1976. The company is now the country’s largest privately owned quota holder and has played a major role in developing key international markets for New Zealand seafood. He has been active in the horse racing and breeding industries for more than 40 years, as an owner, breeder and TAB Board member. He acquired Wrightson Bloodstock in 1996, renaming it New Zealand Bloodstock. He established a leasing and finance business to assist breeders and in 1998 precipitated the formation of New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing, to promote New Zealand thoroughbreds internationally. Apart from support to the racing industry, Sir Peter has provided sponsorship for Sir Mark Todd’s Olympic efforts.

• Rich List 2013 entry
 

RICHARD BALLANTYNE CNZM
He has been a director of Christchurch department store J Ballantyne and Co since 1985 and was managing director from 1996-2011. He is a community board member of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority and chairman of the St Barnabas Rebuild Appeal. Ballantynes is a key player in Christchurch Re:START mall project. Mr Ballantyne is a past president and life member of the New Zealand Retailers Association and a board member of the Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce. A long list of community organisations he is or has been involved with include the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, the Laura Fergusson Home for the Disabled, the Cholmondeley Children’s Home Foundation and the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation. Other business interests include the Christchurch Central City Business Association, the New Zealand Institute of Management, the Canterbury Promotion Council and the Canterbury Business Leaders Group.

PETER COOPER CNZM
His Cooper and Company has financially backed the redevelopment and restoration of 17 historic buildings along with major new buildings in the Britomart Urban Restoration Project in downtown Auckland. He established the Britomart Arts Foundation, seeding an initial donation of $1 million and donating works by New Zealand artists. His rural property development in the Bay of Islands, Mountain Landing, has involved the extensive creation of wetlands, native bush planting and preservation of areas of high archaeological value. Mr Cooper, who spent much of his business career in the US developing shopping malls, was awarded the University of Auckland Business School Outstanding Māori Business Leader Award in 2008.

• Rich List 2013 entry

EARL HAGAMAN CNZM
The executive chairman of Scenic Hotel Group has been involved in hospitality and tourism for more than 30 years. He has also been involved in a wide range of philanthropic causes, contributing more than $10 million to individuals, community groups and organisations over the past two decades including schools, sports clubs, health research and family support groups. Scenic Hotel Group expanded into the Pacific in 2012 with the opening of Scenic Hotel Tonga. In 2009, he became the sole recipient to date of a New Zealand Hotel Industry Achievement Award.

• Rich List entry 2013

DON McLAREN CNZM
Founded Bomac Laboratories, a veterinary (equine) pharmaceutical company, in 1958 and was chairman until its sale to Bayer in 2011. 
He is a past chairman of the Auckland Racing Club and he and his wife are leading  horse breeders at the Northfields Stud. He was chairman of New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing from 2000-02 and a director of Vector from 2002-06. 
Mr McLaren has been director of the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame since 2003 and patron since 2011, establishing a $250,000 investment fund.

• Rich List 2013 entry

PETER TOWNSEND CNZM
Chief executive of the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce since 1996 and heavily involved with earthquake recovery issues for Canterbury businesses. He is a board member of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and a member of the Callaghan Innovation Grants Committee. He is past chairman of the New Zealand Merino Company, a board member of Pegasus Health, the Royal New Zealand Airforce Museum Trust and chair of the New Zealand Territorial Forces Employer Support Council. He is the Honorary Consul for Chile for the South Island.

KAREN WALKER CNZM
A fashion designer whose products are available in more than 30 countries. She has five flagship stores in New Zealand and one in Taipei. She has unveiled new seasons at New York Fashion Week and is the only New Zealand designer to show at London Fashion Week. She has expanded her designs to include jewellery, eyewear, homeware and a paint range. She was included in Phaidon’s Sample, which curates the 100 most influential designers of the past six years, and Taschen’s Fashion Now 2, which highlights the world’s most important 160 designers selected by i-D magazine. Ms Walker has been an ambassador for the Breast Cancer Research Trust for more than 10 years and has produced one-off jewellery pieces and clothing designs that have been auctioned at fundraisers for the trust.