Dame Susan Hassall in Te Koo Utu Domain, Cambridge
Susan Hassall has her sights set on 2028 and intends to still be chancellor of Waikato University when its long-awaited medical school opens.
“That’s the dream,” the long time Cambridge resident says.
Hassall, 71, who was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2021, has now been made a Dame Companion in the King’s Birthday Honours.
The recipients in The News circulation area are:
To be a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Susan Jean Hassall, ONZM, JP – Cambridge
For services to education
Dame Susan Hassall
Hassall was Headmaster of Hamilton Boys’ High School (HBHS) from 1999 until 2024, overseeing many significant academic and sporting successes and growth of the school. Her contributions to education and the wider community were recognised with the Hamilton Kirikiriroa Medal by Hamilton City Council in 2024. Having been on the University of Waikato Council from 2016 and Pro-Chancellor since 2017, she was appointed Chancellor in 2025 and is a member of the University of Waikato Foundation.
She contributed to the signing of a kawenata between Waikato-Tainui and the University of Waikato in 2025, setting a foundation for how they will work together on programmes supporting their strategic objectives. She is Chair of Hospice Waikato Trust and was Acting CEO for 10 months from 2024 to 2025, having been on the Board since 2018. She became Deputy Chair of Momentum Waikato in 2026, supporting community development projects and charities, having joined the Board in 2025. She was a founding member of the Association of Boys’ Schools of New Zealand in 2001 and has held several executive offices since 2008. Mrs Hassall has contributed to gifted education through giftEDnz and many years with the Minister’s Advisory Group.
To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM)
Luk Sun Chin – Cambridge
For services to health and harness racing
Luk Chin
Dr Luk Chin has helped expand private health services in the Waikato region, bringing $150 million in investment over a 40-year period.
Dr Chin has contributed more than 50 years as an anaesthetist, pain and intensive care specialist. He practiced as an anaesthetist at Waikato Hospital until he was 75 years of age, and is currently still active in pain management. He helped establish Waikato Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit and Pain Service in 1975, at the time only the second in the country. In 1991 he co-led the development of the Anglesea Medical Centre in Hamilton, Waikato’s first same day surgical unit, now operating as an elective surgical hospital.
He has since contributed significantly to the establishment of further private healthcare facilities in the region, including in Tauranga, Cambridge, and the Franklin Day Hospital in Pukekohe. He created a fund to provide financial assistance for future registrars wanting to advance their studies of anaesthetics. At 83 years of age, he is New Zealand’s oldest licensed harness racing trainer and driver, racing weekly and supporting junior drivers in the racing industry. Since 1980 he has trained horses to win more than 200 races, breeding them all rather than purchasing the horses. Dr Chin has been a winning driver over 100 times.
Colin Joseph Ronald Groves – Tamahere
For services to business, philanthropy and sport
Colin Groves
Colin Groves has made significant contributions to business, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and sport in the Waikato.
Groves arrived in New Zealand in 2009, involved with Tetra Laval Group’s acquisition of Downer McClunie Birch, which rapidly expanded from 30 to more than 200 employees. As a chartered accountant, he has utilised his extensive corporate governance experience across the sports, technology, and agriculture sectors. He develops future leaders through mentoring, generously contributing his time and expertise for the wider community. He has Cornish roots and facilitated a trade agreement between the Waikato and Cornwall Chambers of Commerce, strengthening international business ties.
He has been heavily involved in local sport governance, particularly rugby, league and cricket. As the former Chairman and current President of Waikato Rugby, he played a key role in the organisation’s restructuring, the establishment of the Friends of Waikato Rugby Foundation, as well as contributing a significant lead role in New Zealand Rugby’s landmark Silver Lake partnership, on a pro bono basis. He is a founding director and current Chairman of Seddon Cricket Club, which has grown to 700 members in just five years. Mr Groves leverages his international networks to foster business partnerships amongst commercial and sporting organisations.
Dr Udayangani Kumudu Sriya (Udaya) Samarakkody – Tamahere
For services to Paediatric Surgery and the Sri Lankan community
Udaya Samarakkody
Dr Udaya Samarakkody has contributed to Paediatric Surgery and the Sri Lankan community in New Zealand for more than 30 years as a consultant paediatric surgeon and paediatric urologist at Waikato Hospital.
Dr Samarakkoy was President of the New Zealand Society of Paediatric Surgeons from 2010 to 2013 and is a member of the Scientific Committee of the Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Paediatric Surgeons. Since 2005, she has been an instructor for the Australia and New Zealand Surgical Skills Education and Training course of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, and has served on the Education Executive Committee of the Waikato Clinical School.
She has published extensively on paediatric surgery and on improving disparity of care. She has trained more than 50 surgeons nationally and internationally. She developed an extensive outreach service to New Zealand’s Midland health region, improving equity of surgical care for rural and Māori children. She co-founded the Sri Lankan Doctors and Dentists Association in New Zealand in 2021 and is Co-Chair. She has held several governance roles with the Sri Lanka Friendship Society Waikato since 1999, introducing and developing many community programmes and annual celebrations, including an annual cultural concert which has run for more than 25 years. Dr Samarakkody received University of Auckland teaching excellence awards in 2019 and 2020.
Read more: A surgeon’s true calling
The King’s Service Medal (KSM)
Margaret Jane (Jane) Manson – Hillcrest
For services to the community
Jane Manson
Jane Manson has contributed widely to her local community, primarily through involvement with St Stephens Church in Tamahere.
Manson created the monthly Tamahere Country Market in 2004, which attracts 20,000 visitors annually with more than 100 stall holders. Since its inception, she has led the voluntary group that organises and runs the market, with a portion of the revenue generated used to maintain St Stephen’s Church and its community outreach. Since 2007 she has voluntarily served as a Board member, and in 2019 was appointed Chair of Mahi Mihinare Anglican Action, where she works to assist vulnerable members of the community through social services and support.
She has been the Church liaison on the Tamahere Community Committee since 2008 and helped establish two shelters for the local bus stops. She led the Tamahere-Woodlands Heritage Committee, working with mana whenua to create a heritage board depicting both Māori and early settler history in Tamahere, and a board explaining Māori history adjacent to the Te Awa Cycleway underpass. In 2024 Ms Manson received the Waikato District Mayoral Community Award.
Brian Lewis Marcroft JP – Ōhaupō
For services to the community
Brian Marcroft
Brian Marcroft has dedicated more than 60 years of voluntary service to the Ngāhinapōuri and surrounding districts.
Marcroft joined the Ngāhinapōuri Hall Society in 1964, overseeing the hall’s rebuild, fundraising and reconstruction, and continued to serve on the Committee for many years after. He has held a range of governance roles in organisations supporting his community, including serving as Trustee of Stewart Reid Memorial Park since 1974, an organiser of the Farm Labour Scheme, a committee member of Ngāhinapōuri Federated Farmers, serving on the Dairy Committee for 35 years, and the Ngāhinapōuri School Committee for 13 years. He was an inaugural member of Waikato Deer Farmers Association, holding various positions over 25 years.
He is a Life Member of Te Awamutu Vet Club. His involvement in local sport includes 10 years as a committee member of Northern Districts’ Cricket and he is a Life Member of the Ngāhinapōuri Golf Club, Cricket Club and Waikato Eagles Society. Mr Marcroft has been a Justice of the Peace since 1999, and in recent years formed the Mangahia Catchment Charitable Trust, through which he is involved in creating a walking and cycling track for the community.
