Justice served for servant of justice

Being acknowledged for doing his job is something Kevin Conroy never expected.

The 68-year-old Carterton former Ministry of Justice employee has been honoured with a Queen Service Medal in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours for services to justice.

"It's such a honour. Something I never expected at all. It's a really lovely recognition," he told the Times-Age.

It all began 52 years ago when he was just a teenager in Blenheim looking for a job.

"In those days you didn't leave school until you had a job. It was the first job that came up."

He has worked in courts throughout the country, including in Christchurch, Napier and Rotorua.

The biggest thing he has seen is his long career has been the change to electronic processing.

"We used to have to write up every register by hand and criminal cases," Mr Conroy said.

"Now it is all electronic it's much quicker. The ministry has provided an efficient system."

Working for the ministry had been an amazing ride until his retirement nine months ago, he said.

"It's an amazing place to work. You work with some fabulous people."

But without wife Christine packing up and moving to new postings with him, he says he wouldn't have been so successful in his work.

"She has been fabulous, moving all around the country with me."

These days Mr Conroy volunteers with Carterton Rotary and is involved with the group set up to save the old Carterton District Court "to be set up as something for the community".

Retirement will see him dabbling in beekeeping, pottering in the garden, "doing the housework" while Christine works and spending "more time with the grandchildren".

"I've bought myself a beehive, so that's turning out to be fun," he said.