New Year Honours list: Ray Cook

Ray Cook has been awarded the honour of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year's New Year's Honours. Photo / File

For more than 25 years Ray Cook has contributed to Rotorua and the nation's tourism and economic growth through his work as a property developer and board member.

For that, he has been awarded an ONZM - Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit - for services to tourism and the community.

"I didn't really expect it at all and it's pretty humbling.

"It was not at all expected and I think there are plenty of others who are much more deserving of this than me."

Mr Cook has been managing director of four major and privately owned companies for which he provided the concept, design, management and development and which are linked to the tourism sector -- namely R&B Consultants, Rotorua Lakeside Resort, The Wall Backpackers and Activity Centre and Rotorua International Airport Company.

His R&B Consultancy company was responsible for the development of several large hotels across New Zealand and for the construction and development of the first Ronald McDonald Retreat in Rotorua.

As board member of the Rotorua Tourism Advisory Board, he provided Rotorua District Council with strategic advice for the operation of Tourism Rotorua and successfully marketing Rotorua as a major tourism destination.

As a former independent director for BikeNZ, he helped reconstruct the organisation which is responsible for New Zealand's BMX, mountain biking, track and road cycling. He was instrumental in introducing regular transtasman flights between Rotorua and Sydney and was also an independent director of the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise.

Mr Cook is actively involved in fundraising for charities. "You don't do these things for the awards," he said.

"I have a keen interest in cycling, but only recreationally, and when I came off the Chiefs board I moved on to the board of BikeNZ. Rotorua also has a great history of cycling and getting Crankworx here in March is a huge success for the city."

Mr Cook said he also had a big year ahead with some major developments planned for the city.