Lasalo Owen Purcell and Hokikau Kataraina Purcell, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of Hamilton, New Zealand, have each been awarded the Queen's Service Medal for services to seniors and Māori.
This year, 154 people have been selected for the 2021 New Year Honours for serving their community or for a significant achievement.
Hoki-and-Owen-Purcell-have-been-awarded-the-Queen's-Service-Medal-as-part-of-the-2021-New-Year-Honours.--New-Zealand,-January-2021
Hoki and Owen Purcell have been awarded the Queen's Service Medal as part of the 2021 New Year Honours. New Zealand, January 2021© 2021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Owen and Hoki Purcell are founding members of Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust since its beginning in 1997.
It provides culturally focused services, programmes and activities to over 600 Kaumātua (elders in Māori society) within the city of Hamilton. Mr Purcell has been chair of Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust since 2012.
Hoki Purcell views their many years of volunteer work as part of their understanding of the gospel: “We believe it is because of one simple word: ministering. When we minister, it is without thought of reward or praise or thanks. We embrace that word and it makes it so easy to do things even when we are reluctant.”
"I believe our most important success has been because of our membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and also about our call to serve a Labour Mission at the College Project at Temple View in 1957."
The Purcell’s are members of the New Zealand Labour Missionaries Association where Mr Purcell was president from 1999 to 2017.
Read more about the Purcell's and their many accomplishments in an article from Te Ao Māori news.