New Year Honours Laurie Byers, QSM

Had it not been for his wife, long-time Far North district councillor Laurie Byers would have turned down the Queen's Service Medal for services to his community.

"I was going to turn it [award] down but my wife said 'What about all the people who supported you?' and I thought that's about right, I owe something to them," he said.

Mr Byers, 70, served as a Far North district councillor for 18 years before deciding to have a tilt at the mayoralty at the 2010 elections. He came third behind incumbent Wayne Brown and Sir John Goulter.

Mr Byers, a Kaikohe farmer, then signalled he was bowing out of local government but told the Northern Advocate this week he would be back for some unfinished business at the council.

He feels great about the award which he says is a credit to the community.

"The community helps you to get there. They help you, you help them. It's a two-way thing," Mr Byers said.

The Justice of Peace and Commonwealth Games bronze-medal winning cyclist has no idea who nominated him but said he worked for the community because he wanted to, and not for recognition. He has vowed to be back as a district councillor and work on attracting people to Northland.

"I want people to live and invest in Northland through education.

"We must keep our good kids here, plus we've got good climate, good soil, good people, and there's no reason why we can't advance that," Mr Byers said.