Local man Rūpene Amato has now officially been made a Companion of the King’s Service Order for services to survivors of abuse in care.

Mr Amato was named in the New Year’s Honour List and was presented with his King’s Service Order last month.

Wairoa-born and bred, Mr Amato has been an advocate for takatāpui and rainbow community survivors and has used his personal experience at St Joseph’s School in Wairoa to advocate for male survivors of sexual abuse by priests.

He has represented the rainbow community at local, national and international levels for Out at Work, a support network for LGBTQI+ workers advocating for inclusivity at work sites and has been a Board Member of the Waikato branch of Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse.

Mr Amato has also been a member of the ‘Survivor Advisory Group of Experts’ (SAGE) for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions since 2019. SAGE has helped provide the inquiry with guidance and support to engage with survivors and their representative organisations on their experiences in state and faith-based care. Mr Amato has advocated to ensure the response to the inquiry accounts for the concerns and interests of all survivors, including survivors of abuse from rainbow communities.  

Mr Amato is the son of Manu and Julie Amato and was raised in North Clyde. He returned home after Cyclone Gabrielle to help his parents whose home flooded. He was quickly picked up by the Wairoa District Council Recovery team and has held the position of Kaimanaaki Matua since then.

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little said it is a true honour for Rūpene to have his work acknowledged.

“Rūpene is very community and whānau-oriented, and I know this is a proud time for his parents, Manu and Julie, and the rest of his whānau. I’ve come to know Rūpene through his role at Council and I have a lot of respect for the important work he has carried out. With what our North Clyde community has gone through, it is great for the North Clyde area to have one of their own honoured in such a prestigious way.”

Mr Amato said the ceremony and being presented with the award was a humbling experience. “I share this honour with others who work tirelessly for justice and peace. It is a recognition of survivors past and present.”

Mr Amato said he feels very privileged to have been made a Companion of the King’s Service Order. “I have learned that there is a lot of power in sharing my story, particularly for those who are survivors of sexual abuse and who feel they are alone. As a survivor, I felt that it was integral that information, education and support be available to other survivors who may not be able to access information on this topic. Serving others has also been a good way for me to work through any remaining trauma that I had from my own experiences. Helping others is a key foundation for me and my family.”

Mr Amato had a total of 32 years of living in Hamilton and said it was great to be back home, living in Wairoa and doing what he could for the community.

Caption: Local man and Wairoa District Council Recovery team member Rūpene Amato has been made a Companion of the King’s Service Order for services to survivors of abuse in care. He is pictured with The Right Honourable Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro.

6 June 2025

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