An ex-Masterton police officer has been named on the Queen's Birthday honour list as a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to the New Zealand police and the community.
Senior Sergeant Gordon John Spite was the officer in charge of the Christchurch Central Beat Sectionfrom 2007 to 2012.
He began his police career in Wairarapa about 25 years ago and moved south in 1988.
"I started in the Wairarapa and lived there for a number of years," Mr Spite said.
The award recognises his work achieving a reduction in inner-city violence and crime, including a 16 per cent decrease in serious assaults, aided by his successful lobbying for a central city liquor ban among other initiatives.
Following the 2010 earthquake he helped direct the efforts of the Urban Search and Rescue Engineering teams, and after the 2011 earthquake he co-ordinated the evacuation of the North Eastern area of the CBD.
Mr Spite said he the award took him by surprise.
"To be perfectly honest I was completely blown away that anyone would think enough of me to nominate me for it.
