Brian Diver has always aimed high when it comes to striving to ensure local youth get the best shot at reaching their full potential.
So it's only fitting that for his efforts in instigating and spearheading the New Zealand Community Trust Aims Games in Tauranga that he has been recognised with a Queen's Service Medal for services to youth sport in the 2012 Queen's Birthday Honours.
Since 2004 the Tauranga Intermediate School principal, who is also Aims Games chairman, has overseen the games growth into a nationwide elite sporting and domestic tourism event. The event has mushroomed into one of the largest sporting events in the country, showcasing the top sporting talent among Year 7 and 8 intermediate school pupils.
It's also been a Tauranga sporting success story, earning flagship status from the Tauranga City Council.
In eight years the Aims Games has grown from 25 schools and 700 athletes to 121 schools and 4600-plus athletes in 2011 and brings hundreds of thousands of dollars into the local community. Under Mr Diver's leadership the event received the Westpac Tourism Award in 2010.