Palmerston North rural police area commander Inspector Mark Harrison, who was raised in Wanganui, says he feels honoured to be recognised for services to the New Zealand Police and community.
Mr Harrison has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the latest round of New Year Honours.
It comes after nearly three decades in the police force and an involvement in the response to Pike River and the Christchurch earthquake.
Mr Harrison, 48, was involved in co-ordinating the New Zealand Police's role following those national tragedies.
He said it was very taxing work, but he felt a huge amount of pride in being able to help during what, for many, was a terrifying time.
Mr Harrison said he'd formed friendships with a number of the families he worked with in Christchurch and kept in touch with them.
In fact, when visiting his mum in Wanganui on Christmas Day, he received a call from one.
Much of Mr Harrison's family still lives in Wanganui, including aunts and uncles.
His parents owned a shop on Abbot St, Gonville, and he went to the local primary school, Rutherford Intermediate and Wanganui Boys' College.
After a "gap year" working for his uncle, he signed up for the police at the station in Wanganui and did some of his training there, but he was posted to Palmerston North, which is where he's been for the better part of 29 years.
Mr Harrison was also deployed to the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010 and London 2012 as a New Zealand Police liaison officer, working with Kiwi athletes, their families and New Zealand tourists.
Mr Harrison, his wife and children live in Feilding.