Academics and alumni receive 2025 New Year Honours

Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to food science, and Professor Trisia Farrelly has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to ecology.

Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh

Professor Singh has made outstanding contributions to food science, in particular protein chemistry related to foods and food processing, for more than 30 years.

“I am deeply honoured and humbled to be appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit,” he says.

“This recognition is not just mine to own but represents the collective dedication and creativity of many remarkable individuals at the Riddet Institute within my exceptional research group. This honour inspires me and the team to continue advancing science that addresses the evolving challenges of the food industry and society.”

Professor Singh’s prolific publications have ranked him as the number one food scientist in Oceania, with more than 500 publications, including serving on 15 editorial journal boards. He has translated his scientific findings to commerce and achieved industrial outcomes of significant economic and social importance.

The FerriPro technology Professor Singh created brings affordable iron nutrition to the developing world, where iron deficiency is a debilitating problem. The technology has been commercialised by the Nestlé-Riddet Institute partnership, earning significant royalties for Massey University and the Riddet Institute, of which he has served as Director since 2018.

The FerriPro technology is one of the largest licensing deals in Massey’s history and has been recognised with several awards, including the prestigious Pickering Medal Professor Singh was awarded by the Royal Society Te Apārangi in 2024.

Professor Trisia Farrelly

Professor Trisia Farrelly was shocked to hear she was being made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

“I felt really honoured and a little bit unworthy. You always think that somebody else is far more worthy than you,” she says.

She has made a significant contribution towards exposing the social, economic and ecological costs of plastic pollution.

Professor Farrelly is a leading independent scientific voice in Aotearoa New Zealand amongst international agencies influencing international conventions, regulations and policies regarding the health, biodiversity, socio-economic and climate impacts of plastic pollution.

In her multiple roles, including as coordinator of a 400-strong international body of independent plastics scientists and as member of the United Nations Scientific Advisory Committee for Plastics, Professor Farrelly has had a leading role informing the future governance of the full life cycle plastics in New Zealand and internationally. Her research has informed Pacific Islands policy and the United Nations Environment global plastic treaty process.

“I am really pleased this is an opportunity to highlight the issues I've been trying really hard to highlight, both in Aotearoa and internationally, for many years.”

Professor Farrelly is now an Honorary Fellow at Massey, having recently begun working at the Cawthorne Institute following 15 years at the university.

Distinguished Professor Wayne McIlwraith

Distinguished Professor Wayne McIlwraith, who received an Honorary Doctorate from Massey in 2023, was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to veterinary medicine and the equine industry. Professor McIlwraith was one of the first to graduate from Massey with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc).

"It all started at Massey,” he says.

“While I have a good career in the United States with a number of unique opportunities, my training with the BVSc degree at Massey has been the perfect foundation for my career - we were well trained scientifically and clinically with an excellent cadre of faculty and, my experience with being involved with many veterinary schools internationally, is that the Massey veterinary degree is second to none."

Professor McIlwraith is currently part of the emeritus faculty of Colorado State University, as well as being on the Board of the Massey Foundation.

Fourteen alumni and one former staff member were also included in the 2025 New Year Honours list:

Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM)

• Professor Emeritus Jillian Hooks (Bachelor of Business Studies 1990 and former staff member) for services to accountancy and education.

Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM)

• Clare Hutchinson-De Ranitz (Bachelor of Arts 1991) for services to midwifery.
• Ms Heke-Turoa Huata (Bachelor of Education 2000) for services to Māori and education.
• Major General John Boswell, DSD, (Rtd.) (Master of Management 2009) for services to the New Zealand Defence Force.
• Kate Sylvester (Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts 1986) for services to the fashion industry.

Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM)

• Dale Bailey (Master of Arts 1985) for services to education.
• Paula Baker (Bachelor of Agriculture Economics 1990) for services to health governance and the community.
• Dr Helen Snell (Doctor of Philosophy (Arts) 2011) for services to nursing and diabetes care.
• Sheryll Ofner (Master of Education Administration 2001) for services to education.
• Dr Hilary Smith (Former staff member) for services to linguistics and the community.

King’s Service Medal (KSM)

• Peter Hensman (Bachelor of Business Studies 1983) for services to cricket and the community.
• Rangimahora Reddy (Master of Business Studies 1996) for services to Māori health.
• Michael Buick (Postgraduate Diploma in Education 2008) for services to the performing arts, particularly musical theatre.

New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration (DSD)

• Squadron Leader Paul Stockley (Postgraduate Diploma in Arts 2010) for services to the New Zealand Defence Force.