Morehu Ngatoko Rahipere, 79, has been awarded the NZ Order of Merit in the Queen's Birthday Honours for his services to Maori. He stands outside Huria Marae (also known as Judea Marae).
As someone who has given all his life, it is Morehu Ngatoko Rahipere's turn to receive today.
The 79-year-old has been awarded the highest honour among our Western Bay recipients in the Queen's Birthday Honours this weekend - The New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM).
A Maori advocate in Tauranga for many years, Mr Rahipere is the leader/elder of Ngaiti Ranginui iwi and has been an advocate for the coming together of Maori and non-Maori in our region.
Mr Rahipere said he had many European friends and having a wide mix of associates from different cultures was the key to fostering a harmonious society.
He said he would never forget the prejudice surrounding his own childhood growing up, having to watch his parents endure racism.
"I've seen the hurt in my parents, early in my life, and the only way to counteract that is to make friends,'' he said.
In his early days at school in Otumoetai, Mr Rahipere made many Pakeha friends and he has continued that all-embracing approach through to his later years, working with Government agencies and local organisations.
Today local body organisations such as Tauranga City Council respected Maoridom and their issues, he said. "We've created a terrific togetherness.''
The Bay of Plenty Times was the first to break the news to Mr Rahipere that he had been awarded a Queen's Birthday honour for services to Maori, and he was initially speechless.
"Quite frankly I'm absolutely flabbergasted. I'm sure there must have been other people more deserving than me,'' he said.
"I am very humbled by it and very thankful to the people that put these things [appraisals] forward on my behalf.''
Mr Rahipere, who had 10 children with his late wife - "there was no TV in those days'' - has worked tirelessly to make sure the Kingitanga movement, Maori language and the art of Maori oratory are preserved.
He is a Justice of the Peace, an advocate of strong inter-tribal links and has been a kaumatua adviser to Tauranga City Council for more than 20 years.
Mr Rahipere has been instrumental in shaping the council's relationship with tangata whenua of Tauranga Moana and has also provided cultural guidance to the Western Bay of Plenty District Council.
He has been the cultural adviser to the Specialist Education Services Poutama Pounamu Education Research and Development Centre, and the Melrose Park Residential Care Facility.
Mr Rahipere has also been the leading kaumatua at many important ceremonies, including the launch of the Cancer Support Nurses Services at the opening of McLeod Home at Althrop Private Hospital.
In addition, he was instrumental in establishing a Whare Wananga (house of learning) at Otumoetai College and has been an active member of the kaumatua forum, Tangata Whenua/TCC Committee, Tauranga Moana Whenua Collective and the museum governance board.
However, Mr Rahipere says his greatest achievement has been his large whanau, including 40-plus grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, and his ability to make many friends.
"I am so very flattered,'' he said. "I get enjoyment doing something for my people and for my community.''
Honours for three men whose works have made the Bay a better place
Three Tauranga men whose remarkable contributions to our community range from setting up the country's second rape crisis unit to solving serious crime and helping the blind and visually impaired have today been honoured.
The efforts of Dr John Barr, John Davis and Detective Peter Blackwell were recognised nationally when they were each awarded a Queen's Service Medal. Michele McPherson reports.
DR JOHN BARR
Working as a doctor in Scotland and as police medical officer in Tauranga, Dr John Barr spent many years dealing first hand with the victims of rape.
In was an era when the media shied away from the subject and public awareness of sex-related crimes was low.
Dissatisfied with the service victims received, Dr Barr set up New Zealand's second acute sexual service, named The Tauranga HELP Rape Victims Support Trust, in 1983.
Dr Barr was a member of the Bay of Plenty Surf Lifesaving Club for 20 years and was honorary medical officer to the Omanu Surf Lifesaving Club. Over the years he has offered his medical skills to the Lions Club annual harbour swim and motor racing at Baypark.
Dr Barr is also the field worker liaison for the Bay of Plenty branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association and represents the branch on the Western BOP Disability Support Trust. He has been a member of the Tauranga South Rotary Club for more than 20 years and was awarded a Rotary Hall Scholarship for his work with the Rape Support Trust.
Dr Barr said he was surprised to hear he had been awarded a QSM but put it down to his work in setting up the support centre.
"I think obviously it must be because of HELP. Apart from HELP I've not done anything special, HELP was unique. I really went out of my way to do this and it took a long time to get people interested and eventually they were. I saw these people (victims of rape) and I had to do something.''
JOHN DAVIS
John Davis says it was almost by accident that he started what has become a 10-year involvement with the Royal New Zealand Federation of the Blind's Tauranga Community Committee.
After agreeing to fill in as a volunteer driver for the Blind Foundation members he soon adopted the position and took on the role of group co-ordinator. "I've got to know these people and like them. They're my friends.
"I get inspired by people. There's so many people who are so brave and manage all sorts of things and have little recognition given to them,'' he said.
Mr Davis has also contributed to other communities as a coach of athletics and soccer, a member of Civil Defence and a member of the Turangi Welfare Organisation and the Tauranga Repertory Society.
DET PETER BLACKWELL
Exceptional investigative skills and a guiding hand to others have seen Tauranga Detective Peter Blackwell awarded a QSM for services to the New Zealand Police.
Ten of his years in the force have been as a detective and for more than 12 years he has been responsible for organising the CIB charity lunch and the Tauranga Police golf tournament for local charities. When floods hit the Bay in 2005, Mr Blackwell initiated fundraising to assist the families of police affected by the flooding.
He is a foundation member of the Toro Mai Trust which identifies high school students with leadership abilities who come from disadvantaged families.