When Beatrice (Bea) Yates heard "this is the Governor-General's office calling" on the end of the phone, she thought it was one of her children playing a joke.
Affectionately known as Aunty Bea, the teacher, fundraiser, songwriter, author and performer was actually being told she would become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2012 New Year Honours.
"I'm still coming to grips with it really. It's such a fantastic honour and my family are all thrilled."
But, despite the long list of community services cited in her honour, Mrs Yates claims the recognition is not about her.
"It's all about the whanau, the hapu, the iwi and the community of Rotorua - especially the hundreds of school children I have taught in the last 50 years."