After receiving the Queen's Service Medal in the New Year Honours former Napier City Council councillor Ian Morrice Dick was left "humbled".
Mr Dick, a former deputy mayor of Napier, was honoured for his services to the community and local government.
He was a NCC councillor from 1989 to 2001, including six years as deputy mayor, during which time he was a driving force on the Municipal Theatre fundraising committee and played a mediating leadership role within the council to help bring major projects to fruition.
"I am very humbled by both my nomination and the honour. I am pleased to be recognised for my involvement over the years but primarily I am pleased for my 12 children, as I was away from them and my wife Natalie when I was involved with all the committees, meetings and community projects.
"I have always been a man who likes to get things done - ideally in the background, whether it was building classrooms, fundraising for community projects, involvement in city affairs or just generally doing something to improve the community and the lives of people in need.