Lisa Choegyal recognised for New Zealand-Nepal relations KATHMANDU:Local tourism operator and New Zealand Honorary Consul in Nepal, Lisa Choegyal has been awarded the honour of being made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to New Zealand-Nepal relations. Choegyal was presented with the award by the New Zealand Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy at a ceremony in Government House in Wellington, on Thursday, May 17. Her sons Sangjay and Rinchen travelled to New Zealand to attend the ceremony with her. Choegyal has served as New Zealand's Honorary Consul in Nepal since 2010. In the aftermath of the devastating April 2015 earthquake, Choegyal was instrumental in locating and helping New Zealanders caught up in the earthquake and in facilitating New Zealand assistance to Nepal's recovery and reconstruction efforts. Choegyal was also praised for her work in advancing sustainable tourism, mountain rescue and conservation of heritage sites in Nepal and for promoting the welfare of Nepali communities through raising scholarship funds for education opportunities. Visiting Nepal this week to mark the 65th anniversary of the first ascent of Mt Everest, New Zealand Ambassador Joanna Kempkers commented that the award was well deserved. "Lisa has served New Zealand with distinction as Honorary Consul during the past decade and has been connected with New Zealand and New Zealanders even longer. It was gratifying to see her work promoting the good relations between New Zealand and Nepal on so many fronts being officially recognised through the award of the MNZM" said Ambassador Kempkers.