Hans Key, a champion for Pacific workers in Aotearoa has received a King's Service Medal in the New Year Honours List. Photo: Hans Key
Hans Key, a champion for Pacific workers in Aotearoa, has received a King's Service Medal in the New Year Honours List.
"Every single one of those who received an honour today represents remarkable service to New Zealand. New Zealand is a better place for their contributions," said Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, of the 190 recipients on the 2025 New Year Honours List, including three new knights and dames.
The list also includes 12 Pasifika recipients, who have been recognised for their contributions to communities, academia, the arts, and advocacy. Among them is Hans Key, who has been awarded a King's Service Medal for services to health and safety and the Pacific community.
Key established the "Puataunofo, Come Home Safely" programme in 2006, to provide health and safety messages to Pasifika manufacturing workers. The initiative was adopted by WorkSafe in 2018.
Key spoke about the origin of Pautaunofono's name.
The name is made up of three parts: pua - flower that represents the worker, tau - bringing people together and nofo, sitting down together.
Key, a Samoan-born New Zealander, hails from the villages of Manase and Malaela in Samoa. He immigrated to New Zealand with his parents for a better life, and settled in South Auckland.
Puataunofo is designed to raise health and safety awareness for Pasifika workers. Photo: Hans Key
"My parents didn't have the best of everything. My father was a tradesman, which is how he got a work opportunity with Fletchers that got us over here, my mother on the other hand worked for Bluebird's factory in Ōtara.
"Every time after school, my parents - they'd come home, and I'd see the plasters from their injuries at work, and when I started working later on in life, that's how the career path started for me.
"That became my goal growing up, although I love sports and cooking, it was always at the back of my mind to keep our people safe," Key said.
Looking ahead to the future, Key said they are now working toward taking their safety workshops from the shop floor level to management and beyond.
Puataunofo was recognised at the 2009 New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards and won the ACC Best Leadership of an Industry Sector Award in 2012.
"I'm humbled by the nomination. It's not just me. It takes a village to raise a child, and so other people have played a part in terms of the work and this award," Key said.
The New Year's Birthday Honours list below:
To be Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Debra Mary Delores Sorensen - for services to Pacific health
To be Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
Iosefo Fa'afiu - for services to mental health, youth and the Pacific community
Anne Maria Fitisemanu - for services to business
Shelley Aroha Katae - for services to Māori and Pacific communities
Tania Mateohorere-Carole Pouwhare - for services to Māori and Pacific communities, and the environment
To be Companions of the King's Service Order:
Moeapulu Frances Eileen Tagaloa - for services to survivors of abuse in care
The King's Service Medal
Vaine Puapii Elia - for services to the Cook Islands community
Rouruina Emile-Brown - for services to the Cook Islands community
Hans Allen Key - for services to health and safety and Pacific communities
Peter Fala Aperila Leilua - for services to the community, particularly youth and Pacific peoples
Tiliilagi Leilua - for services to the community, particularly youth and Pacific peoples
Teremoana Terepai - for services to the Pacific community and seniors
