Mr Farrell, 65, went to Greytown School and Kuranui College, before working for the Wairarapa Catchment Board for about a year.
He then joined the Forest Service and became a ranger, working all over "different parts of New Zealand" until "landing in Hokitika" in 1972 after accepting a job.
"I have never left, so it's certainly a place that attracts you and holds you if you are of the right character," he said.
Mr Farrell said even though he now considered Hokitika home, he still enjoyed visiting Wairarapa every two years "on average".
"Growing up in a small town was really good for a young person."
He and his friends would ride their bikes to Woodside, and from there they would go tramping, hunting and explore the ridges and gullies.
"The Tararuas were a big influence on what I ended up doing."
One of Mr Farrell's first jobs in Wairarapa was picking raspberries during the school holidays.
He said his cousin had an agricultural business and he helped with harvesting and hay making when a teenager.
"Early morning starts in the summer and driving a tractor around South Wairarapa.
"Wairarapa was a really nice place to grow up, it was a lovely little district. You had the mountains, but also the coastlines."
He said Ngawi and Cape Palliser, Castlepoint and White Rock were some of his "favourite haunts".
Mr Farrell's father was Denis (Denny), who was a carpenter, and his mother, Freida, worked in Dave Cooper's clothing factory in Greytown.
Sister Gwenda lived in Featherston with her partner up until two years ago when they decided to move down to the West Coast.
Being named on the Honours List was "a big surprise" but Mr Farrell "understood the reason behind it".
"I have done a long time in public service. I've led some really good teams and people so it's not just what I've done, it's been a joint effort."
