Orquidea Tamayo Mortera

Orquidea Nallely Gabriela Tamayo Mortera is a Mexican–New Zealander Registered Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. She is the former president and the inaugural Director of Strategic Engagement of the New Zealand Society of Diversional and Recreational Therapists. In 2024 Mortera was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to diversional and recreational therapy and education.

Career

Tamayo Mortera is Mexican, and was born in Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz. She moved to New Zealand in the 2000s. She has instituted programmes such as Cycling Without Age and Baby Buddies, where parents bring their young babies into rest homes. Tamayo Mortera has promoted the training and education of diversional and recreational therapists, training more than 1000 therapists. She is currently the co-chair of Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand, a forum for representation of allied health professionals.

Honours and awards In 2022 Tamayo Mortera was awarded a NAAP Director’s Award of Excellence by the United States National Association of Activity Professionals "for her global contributions in bringing together therapeutic recreation organisation leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic to share resources".