Former staff and alumni recognised in 2024 New Year Honours List

Former Te Kunenga Ki Pūrehuroa Massey University staff member and alumna Dr Johanna Wood has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to football governance.

Dr Wood has contributed to football in New Zealand since 2006. She was chair of Central Football from 2010 to 2018 and has been a member of the Board from 2006. She was elected to the New Zealand Football Executive Committee in 2018 and served as acting vice president before becoming the first female president in 2019.

In Dr Wood’s first year of leadership, the Board achieved 40 per cent female representation around the board table for the first time, which has since been maintained. She was appointed as the Oceania representative to the FIFA Council in 2019 and was re-elected for a second term in 2023. She also led the bidding for the hosting rights of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

Dr Wood has been a long-standing member of the Red Sox Football Club in Manawatū, and was made a life member of Central Football in 2020. She was the inaugural Chair of FIFA’s first World Cup Legacy Committee, driving collaboration across the Asia-Pacific region, ensuring a lasting legacy for the tournament across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific.

In 2019, Dr Wood graduated from Massey University with a doctorate in education. Her doctoral research explored the professional learning landscape for educators working in Teen Parent Units in New Zealand.

Dr Wood has held multiple positions at Massey. In 1993, she was employed as a Secondary Mathematics Advisor. In 2006, she was the Leadership Advisor for specialist classroom teachers. In her most recent role, which she held from 2009 to 2015, she was involved with the National Schooling Improvement Project for Teen Parent Educators.

Dr Wood says she’s humbled to be named a companion.

"I'm humbled and honoured to receive this award and acknowledge I’m a small part of a much wider team who strive to make football fun, enjoyable and accessible to all here in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Little did I know in February 2019 that the months following the defence of my doctorate would set a path for me that has been both rewarding and challenging.

That path has been possible because of the support of my family, friends and colleagues. To them I say thank you."

Ten alumni and two former staff members were also included in the 2024 New Year Honours List:

Officers of the Order of New Zealand (ONZM)

• Dr Caroline Seelig (Master of Education Administration) for services to education.
• Professor Emerita Edith Jones (Master of Education Administration) for services to education.
• Craig Hamilton (Graduate Bachelor of Arts) for services to the New Zealand Police and the community.

Members of the Order of New Zealand (MNZM)

• Dr Anne Perera (Master of Business Administration and former staff member) for services to food science and nutrition.
• Pamela Hanna (Bachelor of Arts) for services to the community and early childhood education.
• Barbara Dewson (Bachelor of Business Studies) for services to dental and oral health therapy.
• Joan Knight (Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Administration) for services to the environment.
• Huhana Manu (former staff member) for services to STEM education and Māori.
• Ria Percival (Certificate in Arts) for services to football.

Queen’s Service Medal (QSM)

• Rowena Tana (Diploma in Dairy Technology) for services to the Māori community.
• Kristeen Johnston (Graduate Diploma Business Studies) for services to the community.

New Zealand Antarctic Medal (NZAM)

• Dr Megan Balks (Bachelor of Science - Honours) for services to Antarctic soil science.