A news media pioneer, a medical advocate, and a cultural ambassador are the three east Aucklanders amongst the recipients in the 2025 New Year Honours List.
Denise Astill, Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Bucklands Beach resident Denise Astill has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to the prevention of foetal anticonvulsant syndromes.
She’s chief executive of Foetal Anti-Convulsant Syndrome New Zealand (FACSNZ), a not-for-profit organisation she founded in 2015 and which provides support, awareness and prevention services for foetal anticonvulsant syndromes.
In 2016 Astill helped ACC develop the ACC FACS Prevention Team, which has since circulated prevention booklets for healthcare professionals and consumers.
Her role at FACSNZ, which she’s undertaken since 2015 in a voluntary capacity, involves attending educational sessions at schools and support groups, arranging conferences, speaking at medical events and attending ACC reviews.
“She organised the first Australasian FACS conference in 2019 with international speakers,” the awards citation states.
“She successfully advocated for warning labels for those pregnant on Epilim boxes in 2017.
“Working with government agencies and non-government agencies, she has promoted education for the prevention of foetal anticonvulsant syndromes.”
In 2019 Astill presented to the World Health Organisation the risks associated with the use of anti-seizure medications in women and girls, which resulted in Foetal Valproate Spectrum Disorder (FVSD) being placed on the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision.
She’s published several articles including co-authoring If it is not safe, it is not care, and attended the fifth Global Ministerial Summit in Geneva.
Astill has been a member of Te Whatu Ora’s Whanau Feedback and Engagement Advisory Group since 2024.
Reay Neben, King’s Service Medal
Former Times Media owner Reay Neben has received the King’s Service Medal (KSM) for services to print media and the community.
Neben founded the Howick and Pakuranga Times newspaper in 1972 and managed the business for decades.
In that role she attended numerous community events annually and continually engaged with the leaders of community groups, schools, sports clubs and interest groups.
“For 30 years she and her team sponsored and ran the Howick Santa Parade, one of the largest Santa Parades in the country, and she was instrumental in its continued success,” the awards citation states.
“She was the first woman appointed to the committee of the New Zealand Community Newspapers Association.”
The citation states the Times is respected by the community and the news industry and Neben has received awards for excellence in the print industry across 52 years of publishing.
They include the Westpac Business Award for Services to the Community, Westpac Employer of the Year, and awards from Rotary and the Zonta Rose for her contribution to journalism during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Neben established the Howick Charitable Trust and with the Howick Ratepayers and Resident’s Association raised $31,000 for a community monument.
Dinesh Kumar Khadka, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Bucklands Beach resident Dinesh Kumar Khadka has been named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the Nepalese community.
He became Honorary Consul of Nepal for Auckland, Waikato and Northland in 2022 and was president of the New Zealand Nepal Society from 2017-2020, having been a member for 15 years, and president of the New Zealand Nepal Chamber of Commerce for five years cumulatively.
The awards citation states Khadka has organised numerous community festivals to promote Nepalese culture and heritage, including local annual sporting events, cultural and education events, and a nationwide talent show in 2016.
He organised the Nepal Festival in 2018, attracting more than 9,000 attendees, and the Dashain Festivals in 2018 and 2019, including acts from Nepal.
Khadka has worked to celebrate the success of Nepalese women in the community, establishing the annual Nari Shakti award in 2018, and was the founding national co-ordinator of the Non-Residential Nepalese Association of New Zealand from 2005-2007.
“Since 2022 he’s been Auckland region navigator of the New Zealand Federation of Multi-Cultural Councils, an executive member of New Zealand Asian Leaders, and on the Asian Advisory Board of the Auckland Business Chapter.
“He was a member of the Hastings Lions Club for 20 years.”
Khadka raised money for Nepal relief efforts after the 2015 earthquake, visiting in 2017, and providing donated goods to the Underprivileged Children Education programme.
