Hon Erica Stanford
Minister of Education

Education Minister Erica Stanford has congratulated the recipients of the King’s Birthday 2025 Honours List who have been recognised for their services to education.

“I’d like to congratulate the people honoured today, who have all made a significant contribution to education in New Zealand and around the world,” Ms Stanford says.

The list includes three appointments as Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit, four Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit, eight Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit, three Companions of the King’s Service Order, and three recipients of The King's Service Medal.

Dr Nina Hood becomes a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education.

“Dr Hood has been instrumental in improving training and support for educators throughout New Zealand. She founded not-for-profit organisation The Education Hub, dedicated to closing the gap between educational research and classroom teaching. Through her leadership, critical issues have been addressed including literacy curriculum design, neurodivergent learning support, and online learning. She’s now contributing to curriculum at an international level, establishing a global conversation on education reform, effective pedagogy and rigorous curriculum design. Through 2023 and 2024 Dr Hood helped establish The Teachers’ Institute, a charitable trust which offers school-led teacher education and professional development.”

Distinguished Professor Emeritus Paul Spoonley is appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

“Professor Spoonley served 42 years as a teacher and researcher in sociology with Massey University, retiring in 2021. During that time, he served in various roles including Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Co-Director of the National Centre of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and was appointed as a member of the Independent Panel of New Zealand Police’s Understanding Policing Delivery. He has been a research fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity Germany since 2013 and is a Fellow and Board member of Auckland Museum. He has published 29 books and has more than 300 peer-reviewed academic journal articles.

“New Zealand’s education system is world-leading. Dr Hood, Professor Spoonley and the other honourees have played an important part in achieving this. I thank them all for their incredible contribution and service to New Zealand,” Ms Stanford says.

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