Taihape Police Sergeant Les Clarke has been recognised for his services to the NZ Police, local democracy and youth support.
Taihape Police Sergeant Leslie Clarke has been awarded the King’s Service Medal in the 2025 New Year Honours.
Clarke has been recognised for his service to the NZ Police, local democracy and youth support.
Since 1972 he has served in a number of frontline roles with the New Zealand Police in Auckland.
He moved to Taihape to do two years of country police service but never left.
Clarke was the driving force behind the installation of CCTV cameras in Taihape, Marton, Bulls and Hunterville.
When Clarke moved to Taihape, he began coaching youth sports teams, including netball, rugby and softball, when he found out there were students who could not play because of a lack of coaches.
“It was just something I did because no one else would,” Clarke said.
Clarke said his community work was based on his understanding of what caused crime and how to prevent it.
In the early 2000s, when he was working with the Taihape Police, he noticed youth crime was stemming from teen boredom so he initiated a scheme with local students to fundraise for trips.
The fundraising was primarily through performing jobs in the community, but Clarke often assisted with fundraising opportunities and supported the students in applying for grants.
“If I saw a gap, if I saw something that needed to be done, I’d do my best to do it,” he said.
As a result of this work, a trip to Australia was funded. Thirty-five senior students went on the trip and by the end of that year, 12 had saved up enough money to go back again.
“Some of them got jobs there and never came back; sometimes I’d get a visit at the police station and they’d check in and tell me what they’re up to,” Clarke said.
Youth groups also went on a trip to Mt Everest base camp.
Clarke became involved with local politics as a three-term member of the Taihape Community Board, including a term as chairman, and a term at the Rangitīkei District Council.
He established the Taihape Community Development Trust 20 years ago.
He remains a sergeant with the Taihape Police and is still a member of the Taihape Community Development Trust.
Clarke said receiving the honour was “humbling, exciting and scary”.
Olivia Reid is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.
'You think about all the times it has rung out, all the weddings.'