New Year Honours: Richard Cashmore

RECOGNISED: Tauranga philanthropist and businessman Richard Cashmore has been awarded the Queen's Service Medal.

A philanthropic Tauranga business leader has been named a recipient of the Queen's Service Medal.

Richard Cashmore was today recognised for his services to business, sport and the community.

Mr Cashmore could not be reached for comment yesterday. He was a founding board member of Priority One, the business and economic development agency serving Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty by attracting more business to the region.

Mr Cashmore is also chairman of the award-winning Realty Group, which trades under the Eves and Bayleys Real Estate brands.

He was a trustee of the philanthropic organisation the Acorn Foundation, which encourages people to bequeath money to be given to local charities and community groups every year.

Mr Cashmore works to help vision impaired people, as a supporter of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind's guide dog services, helping the Bayleys Group raise funds to breed and train dogs.

As a keen sportsman, Mr Cashmore was the founding chairman of the Tauranga Boys' College Titan Sports Academy, chairman of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, club chairman of the Tauranga Golf Club and chairman of Bay of Plenty Golf.

He played senior rugby for 17 years, then coached at that level for four years in both Tokoroa and Tauranga, winning club competitions in both regions.

Mr Cashmore was elected to the Tokoroa Town Country committee in 1975, which later became the Tokoroa Borough Council.

He served as a councillor until moving to Tauranga in 1980.

He has won several awards in recent years, including the Westpac/Tauranga Chamber of Commerce Business Awards: Business Leader of the Year, 2011; Bayleys Realty Group National Bayleys Award 2010 and Westpac/Tauranga Chamber of Commerce Business Awards: Business of the Year for Realty Group 1996 and 2003.