The medal was presented on 11 November 2025 at a special ceremony held at the University of Auckland's Old Government House, following the Māori Health Advisory Group's (MHAG) annual general meeting. The celebration was a surprise for Dr Mutu-Grigg, whose whānau (family) joined for the occasion.
Professor Jonathan Koea opened the evening with a mihi whakatau (formal welcoming ceremony), and MHAG members Dr Alison Scott and Dr Benjamin Cribb closed the event. Previous medal recipient Dr Maxine Ronald read the nomination, and RACS President Associate Professor Owen Ung presented the medal. Guests included RACS CEO Stephanie Clota, previous medal recipient Professor Pat Alley and Aotearoa New Zealand National Committee Chair Ros Pochin.
This year's medal was engraved with Mangopare, the hammerhead shark design symbolising tenacity and strength. The accompanying whakatauākī - Me mate ururoa, kaua e mate wheke - means Fight like the hammerhead shark, not to give up like a squid.
Dr Mutu-Grigg's mother, Professor Margaret Mutu, a respected Māori academic at the University of Auckland, expressed her pride in her son saying he was raised to work with his people.
A leader in Māori health and surgical equity
Dr Mutu-Grigg has been a core member of the RACS Indigenous Health Committee and Māori Health Advisory Group since 2017; the latter of which he has chaired since 2019. He also serves on the Executive of the Aotearoa New Zealand National National Committee and is deeply involved with the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association.
He was instrumental in establishing Ngā Rata Kōiwi, the Māori orthopaedic surgical group that supports Māori registrars throughout their training journey. Under his leadership and advocacy, Orthopaedics now has the highest representation of Māori surgical Fellows and Trainees of all the nine RACS surgical specialties.
Dr Mutu-Grigg has championed the inclusion of Cultural Competency and Cultural Safety as core clinical competencies for surgical Trainees, helped introduce culturally safe selection processes for Orthopaedic Surgery, and has been a powerful advocate for health equity for Māori.
He also works tirelessly to inspire future generations, attending Pūhoro wānanga for Māori secondary school students interested in STEM subjects and regularly participating in Te Ora careers hui, where he has twice been voted "best in show."
Although he works primarily in the private sector, John provides pro bono care to his iwi and remains passionate about achieving equity of representation in the Māori surgical workforce by 2040. He is a staunch defender of Indigenous rights and an inspiring role model for Māori and non-Māori alike.
