Former Whanganui mayor Annette Main received her ONZM at Government House yesterday, three decades after her father received the equivalent OBE.
Ms Main was joined by her 87-year-old father Bill Main in Wellington as she was presented with her medal by Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy and a ceremony with 25 other recipients.
She was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to local government in the New Year's Honours.
Mr Main was awarded his Order of the British Empire in the 1980s for services to cycling and Ms Main said it was special having him there yesterday.
"The Governor-General asked Dad about his OBE," she said.