"I think anything to do with the sporting side in the town that keeps youth occupied and doing something is important. I think when you have sporting facilities that kids can participate in, it keeps them out of trouble.
"We have supported Whangamata Bowling Club for a number of years because that's some of the older folk and it's neat to see they are going to have an astro turf green going on there.
"The surf club is another important thing. We also sponsor Whangamata Golf Club and I'm keen on golf myself, and being the president of the [Whangamata] Rugby Club, it's about all those sporting things that kids can participate in."
When the community swimming pool in Whangamata lost Westpac as its major sponsor 10 years ago Murray stepped up again.
"That's very important getting kids learning to swim and having that operating in Whangamata."
Award recipient Trevor Ladd, whose wife Cherry has also given years of service to the community of Tairua, said he does what he does for his community because of the other people who are involved as volunteers.
"I'm not sky high about the whole thing, I think there's plenty of people around town that would deserve it, as I said to our mayor. She said 'well share it with them'."
Trevor has spent 18 years with Tairua Search and Rescue and now takes care of the gear since he cannot keep up with the field work. For 17 years he has built tracks voluntarily as a key member of the Coastal Walkways group and often makes items for various community groups when needed.
"I have a lot of regard for people who give up their time whether it's fine or raining or whatever and go out and search for people. I enjoy their company."
Brett Wilson received an award after his seven years' service to the Whangamata Ratepayers Association, and six as chairman.
His work in lobbying for mangrove removal in the harbour has had "limited success" he said, but the up side was the people he's met along the way.
Brett was also on the regional council's catchment committee, and on the board and former president of the Whangamata Golf Club.
"It's just a great place to live," he says of Whangamata. He has taken a step back from both organisations to travel around New Zealand with his wife Jenny.
The recipients were:
Thames
Wati Ngamane – Ngati Maru Kaumatua, for services to the Thames community, including representing the Hauraki Rail Trail.
Geoff Furkert and Warren Sly – Volunteer work on behalf of the Sir Keith Park Memorial Airfield Trust.
John Isdale – Services to preservation of Thames history.
George Udy - Services to Thames Community Patrol and Hauraki Rail Trail Trust.
Coromandel - Colville
Claire Laureen Stewart – Services as an Anglican Minister.
Jean Ashby – Services to Coromandel Independent Living Trust and wider Coromandel-Colville community
Mercury Bay
Harold Abrahamson - Service to the Mercury Bay community for over 30 Years
John North – Service to Hahei for 16 years, including improving destination management.
Tairua-Pauanui
Trevor Ladd - Service to the Tairua-Pauanui community for over 20 years including conservation and coastal walkways.
Michael King - Service to the Tairua-Pauanui community for over 20 years.
Whangamatā
Brett Wilson - Volunteer work for Whangamatā Ratepayers Association and Whangamatā Golf Club for over 16 years.
Murray Cleland – Service to the Whangamatā community for over a decade.
