Teresea Olsen receives the Queens Service Medal

Teresea Olsen receives the Queens Service Medal

Ms Teresea Olsen has founded, managed and supported community health projects for 35 years through her ongoing involvement with Kōkiri Marae Seaview, New Zealand’s first Kōkiri centre.

Ms Olsen established the Marae’s health services arm in 1992 and has since been the Marae’s Health and Social Services Manager. Within this role she has initiated and overseen programmes in women’s health and cervical screening, immunisation, diabetes outreach, sexual health, smoking cessation and lifestyle education. She has in addition supported the development of a range of affiliate projects including the Whai Oranga Health Centre, the Tu Kotahi Māori Asthma Trust, family support agency Naku Enei Tamariki, and the Kōkiri Marae Māori Women’s Refuge. She is a long-serving Trustee of the Marae. She is a Trustee of the Te Awakairangi Health Network and from 2004 has been Chair of the Whaiora Whanui trust, which oversees ‘by Māori for Māori’ community-based health serves in the Wairarapa region. She is General Manager of Takiri Mai Te Ata Whanau Ora Trust and Chair of Mana Wahine, a collective of Māori health providers whose focus is on Māori women’s health. Ms Olsen was a member of the Māori panel judging the 2003 Asthma and Respiratory Achievers Awards.

The Queen's Service Medal

https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours/lists/ny2018-qsm