Queen's Birthday Honours: Tony Hawken

Tony Hawken has become an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM).

Talented and artistic friends were responsible for Whakatane's Tony Hawken "checking things twice" before assuring himself he was to become an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM).

Mr Hawken has been recognised for his services to the kiwifruit industry.

"I admit I read the letter informing me of the honour, then I read it again just to be sure," Mr Hawken laughed. "My initial reaction was to think a mate was playing a joke, a few are artistic wee souls."

After realising the letter was legitimate, Mr Hawken said an array of emotions took over.

"I felt surprised, honoured, and I felt humbled," he said. "But I think it is an honour that not only recognises me, but also the team at Eastpack and the industry as a whole."

He recognised the Eastpack crew and his "long-suffering" wife Margaret, as being instrumental in his success.

Mr Hawken was the chief executive officer of EastPack Ltd from 1983 until the end of 2014. Eastpack started as a small kiwifruit cooperative in the challenging kiwifruit growing region of the Eastern Bay of Plenty and grew into a major post-harvest supplier to Zespri with seven facilities from Northland to Opotiki. EastPack represents 27 per cent of the New Zealand kiwifruit crop.

Mr Hawken has led the cooperative through difficult circumstances from industry restructures to natural disasters and crop bacteria outbreaks.

Under his leadership the cooperative saw 200 per cent growth for the period 2000 to 2014, where comparatively the broader industry grew by 50 per cent.

He has been committed to achieving the best possible returns for growers and has made himself available year round to assist growers with any issues they raise with him.

Mr Hawken has served on the board of the regional development group Bay of Connections for several years as representative of the kiwifruit industry.

Since stepping down as chief executive officer last year, Mr Hawken has taken up the role as Eastpack's manager of special projects - a position he will hold until the end of 2016.

"Although I'm keeping busy I definitely have a little more time on my hands without the executive role."