Career spent helping farmers achieve

David Baker JP was part-way through his North American holiday and on a cruise ship when he received an email to say he had been honoured as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Speaking to the Times-Age from Canada yesterday, Mr Baker wanted to hear who else in Wairarapa had received an honour - and was delighted to hear how many had.

For himself, he said he was "absolutely chuffed".

"I feel honoured and humbled."

Mr Baker came to Wairarapa 45 years ago and established Baker and Associates in Masterton in 1986, after working as a farm management consultant and registered valuer since 1969.

He is semi-retired and acts as a consultant for the firm.

Mr Baker is a past national president of the NZ Society of Farm Management, was a member of the Primary Industry Consultants Registration Board, and is a past member of the Wairarapa and Wellington Land Valuation Tribunal.

He is also a court-sitting Justice of the Peace.

Mr Baker said a role he had taken greatest satisfaction in was being a trustee in the establishment of the New Zealand Rural Trust with Sir Peter Elworthy.

"It was support for farmers, affected by the downturn, about 1986-87."

That trust has now been regionalised, including the East Coast Rural Support Trust, of which he is currently a trustee.

"My whole focus is trying to anticipate needs of farming clients, assist them as best I can."

His JP role was part of "giving back to the community".