Former mayor says honour is a tribute to people who helped

By HANNAH STONE in Rotorua
Former South Waikato mayor Gordon Blake sees his New Year's Honour as a tribute to the many people who have helped him over the years.

Mr Blake received the Queen's Service Order for public services. He was already a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Enjoying his retirement after 15 years in Tokoroa's top office, Mr Blake said he wondered how he had time to be mayor.

"Between farming and working my orchard to all my community work, I have been so busy."

Mr Blake is still heavily involved with the South Waikato community, including work with the South Waikato Development Trust, The Waikato River Trail and youth mentor programme Project K.

He is also advising a South Waikato marae in need of a helping hand and has been approached by the Department of Corrections to chair a new committee.

Mr Blake was mayor of the South Waikato from 1989 until this year, previously serving as a Matamata County councillor.

He was the driving force behind the instigation of a national pilot project in his district for a stock effluent disposal station.

Mr Blake has been the director of Dairy Meats New Zealand Limited, chairman of the South Waikato and South Auckland calf pools and trustee of the Rangiura Trust Board. For five years he was a trustee on the Matamata/Piako Life Education Trust.

Despite already clocking up many years of work for the community, Mr Blake doesn't see himself slowing down.