We’d like to say a huge congratulations to Habib Ullah Marwat who has been recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours. He was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal for services to Muslim and ethnic communities.
Habib, a genuinely humble and selfless man said he ‘couldn’t believe it’ when told about his award and admitted to shedding a tear. He says ‘Christchurch has been through a lot in the last few years and so this feels extra special’.
Habib is a Principal Advisor in our Southern Community Engagement Team and works with ethnic communities every day. He was instrumental in organising numerous meetings for the Prime Minister and Ministers with the Muslim community and held a key role in organising hui with the community on the Royal Commission of Inquiry Report following the March 2019 terror attack. He worked to connect victims of the terror attack with services and direct queries from families to appropriate forums.
But that’s only part of the story. Habib has been a community volunteer in Canterbury and wider New Zealand for the past 12 years. He is a driving force in youth sport, helping bring multi-ethnic communities together. He assisted in introducing affordable iftar programmes for the Canterbury Muslim community and, actively supports refugees settling in New Zealand. In short, he’s a worthy recipient of a Queen’s Service Medal.
When asked about how he planned to celebrate Habib said his wife was planning a big hui. He also plans to keep volunteering. Habib says he feels blessed, ‘I have a beautiful family, a good life and an employer who trusts me. New Zealand has been good to me. What really matters though is how God the most merciful sees me. I hope on the day of judgement Allah will say ‘Habib, you did good.’
Congratulations Habib. We love having you as part of the team and know you are a genuinely good person.