Chris Marjoribanks has been trying to make Kawerau a better place for decades.
He has supported and led several efforts to support Kawerau's most vulnerable, and was today awarded a Queen's Service Medal to acknowledge his work.
In 2011, following a spike in teenage suicides in the district, he led new strategies to identify and support young people who were experiencing poor mental health and suicide ideation.
This included the establishment of a core group to support at-risk youth and adults.