‘Love is justice, lived out loud’: Reverend Wayne Toleafoa honoured for service

Justice arrived early in Reverend Wayne Saunoa Moegagogo Toleafoa’s life, and it never left.

Long before honours lists and medals, it took shape in teenage protest, in faith lived beyond the church walls, and in a belief that love must be seen in action, not words.

More than 50 years on, that belief has carried the former Polynesian Panther and Sāmoan church minister from the front lines of anti-racism movements in the 1970s to the pulpit of St Columbia’s Presbyterian Church, and now into the 2026 New Year Honours with a King’s Service Medal for service to Pacific communities.

The New Zealand Royal Honours recognise people who have made lasting contributions to their communities and the country. In the New Year 2026 honours, 177 people are acknowledged for their service. Toleafoa is one of only eight recipients of Pacific descent.

“I must admit, I was a bit shocked. I was a bit humbled by the fact that some people would take any notice of my work,” he says.

Toleafoa’s commitment to justice began at 16 years old, when he joined the Polynesian Panther Party to challenge institutional racism, media bias, and the dawn raids that targeted Pacific families.

Listen to interview with Reverend Wayne Toleafoa below.

“We still believe racism is a cancer or an enemy to be fought. We still believe in equality for all people. We were fighting for Māori language in all the media, because there was no Māori language on radio, TV, or other main media,” Toleafoa says.

While he acknowledges progress has been made, Toleafoa remains concerned about what he sees as a shift backwards in attitudes towards Māori culture and rights.

“It has come back but we notice now, there's a kind of going backwards with the Government. Some of the Government policies are going backwards, especially driven by [ACT Party Leader] David Seymour and the right wing, who want to trivialise the Māori culture.

“I still believe in exactly the same things as I did as a 16-year-old about justice. As a Christian, justice and love. Love is justice, publicly enacted. I still believe that as well.”

Alongside activism, Toleafoa pursued theoplogical study and academic excellence. In 2001, he became the first Pacific person to graduate with a Master of Theology from Oxford University, a milestone he hopes will inspire young Pacific scholars and ministers to aim high.

That same year, he was appointed Principal Chaplain of the Royal New Zealand Navy, a role he held until 2013. He says his time in military service was another way of supporting people through care, guidance, and moral leadership.

Today, as minister of St Columbia’s Presbyterian Church, Toleafoa continues to serve his community with the same values that influenced his youth. In recent years, he has led St Columbia’s Eco-Church initiative, encouraging congregations to care for the environment.

For Pacific people, he says environmental stewardship is vital. Rising sea levels threaten low-lying islands like Tuvalu, making climate action a matter of survival.

“It's about love for people and love for the environment. It's about caring for the environment. We're blessed that we come from a part of the world that's blessed with so much beauty. But it's changing because we're not looking after the environment.”

Despite decades of struggle, Toleafoa remains optimistic. He describes himself as a “super optimist”, guided by faith and scripture.

"Micah says God has already shown us what to do: to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. That’s a very good summary of true religion. You look at life and you try to be as just as possible, and that affects everything: the way people are treated and whether you are showing kindness."

More than 50 years on, the beliefs that shaped a 16-year-old activist continue to guide a minister, mentor, and now a recipient of one of Aotearoa’s highest honours.