Rolleston's Agnes Abuel-Guda receives King's Service Medal for services to the Filipino community at Christchurch investiture
Mrs Agnes Abuel-Guda, JP, of Rolleston received the King's Service Medal for services to the Filipino community at an investiture ceremony at the Christchurch Town Hall on 20 October, recognising work with the Philippine Society of Canterbury, Pinoy Cares Canterbury, Hiraya Charitable Trust, Kalinga Women's Support and more.
Mrs Agnes Abuel-Guda, JP, of Rolleston received the King's Service Medal (KSM) for services to the Filipino community at an investiture ceremony at the Christchurch Town Hall on 20 October, according to the Governor-General's blog and Government House image gallery.
The Governor-General's office said investitures began at the Christchurch Town Hall that morning with ten recipients honoured in a range of fields, and that six New Zealanders received King's Service Medals for their contribution to the Filipino community, conservation, brass bands, Scouts and the community. Mrs Abuel-Guda's medal was announced in the King's Birthday Honours 2026.
Her citation from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet says she has supported various community initiatives in Canterbury since 2008, been active with the South Island's Filipino community and held offices with Filipino and multi-ethnic non-profit organisations.
She has been involved with the Philippine Society of Canterbury, including as Secretary since 2015, as well as the Canterbury Philippines Assistance Group and Pinoy Cares Canterbury. She has been Secretary of the Canterbury Ballers Club Trust, a Filipino sports organisation, since 2016, founded Kalinga Women's Support in 2023 and co-established Hiraya Charitable Trust in 2025, a mental health trust for women and youth.
The citation also notes that she has volunteered as a community broadcaster with the Kabayan Filipino radio programme on Plains Media since 2013, has been a member of the Selwyn Central Community Care Board since 2021 and the Selwyn Civil Defence Community Response Team from 2022, and has received community awards from Christchurch City Council, Selwyn District Council and the Philippine Embassy.
Key facts
- Mrs Agnes Abuel-Guda, JP, of Rolleston received the King's Service Medal for services to the Filipino community.
- The investiture took place at the Christchurch Town Hall on 20 October.
- She has been Secretary of the Philippine Society of Canterbury since 2015.
Official sources
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