Anne McCracken, KSM

Mrs Anne McCracken was recognised with a Kings Service Medal announced in the Kings Birthday Honours 2025. She is acknowledged for her staunch advocacy for women through a number of organisations including BPW, and Past Presidents recall her attending two national Conferences as part of the Southland Club since joining in 2002.

Anne's leadership shone in the Southland Club in its later years and she has continued her membership as an individual member of BPW NZ since.

Anne has embodied BPW's vision towards a just and equal status for women in all levels and areas of society through her involvement with Southland District Council and Southland Conversation Board, NCW, Southland Womens Club (particularly the policy and planning committee), Southland Art Society, Rotary, and many other local bodies and organisations.  

Southland and women in New Zealand are lucky to have benefitted from such dedicated service and we thank her for her efforts.

From the announcement: Mrs Anne McCracken has had a varied involvement with community organisations, outdoor recreation and local government in Southland.

Mrs McCracken and her husband have farmed in Western Southland for many years, where she has supported community projects including the Southern Scenic Route, the Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track, McCrackens Rest, the Southland Locator Beacon Charitable Trust, and Tuatapere Promotions. She was a Waiau Health Trust Director from 2000 to 2012, campaigning for improved rural health support for the Tuatapere area. She has been on the Executive committee of Southland Medical Foundation for more than 20 years. She is a Life Member of the Borland Lodge Adventure and Education Trust and has been Secretary and Vice President over 30 years. She has been President of the Southland Women’s Club, chaired the Policy and Planning Committee, and became a Life Member after 21 years’ involvement. She was elected to the Southland District Council from 2001 for two terms and served on the Southland Conservation Board. She was President of the Southland Art Society in 2009. She has coordinated the Dictionaries in Schools project for Invercargill North Rotary Club and has volunteered for the Invercargill Citizen’s Advice Bureau. Mrs McCracken is a programme maker for Radio Southland and has interviewed people for a Southland Oral History project.