Rangitīkei’s Brian Carter has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours list for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
Carter has been awarded a King’s Service Medal (KSM) as the first member of the Bulls Volunteer Fire Brigade to serve for 50 years.
He has been the brigade’s chief fire officer since 2006 and was deputy chief from 1991 until he was promoted. He first joined in 1970 and briefly, later in the decade, he served with the Marton Volunteer Fire Brigade before returning to Bulls in 1980.
During his long service, Carter has led the brigade through regular call-outs and several regional disasters.