"I'm very humbled to receive this honour knowing there are many, many deserving people out there who have not been recognised for their community service."
She said growing up in Te Poi as a member of one of the early pioneering families, public and community service was in "very much" in her DNA.
Her parents Frances and the late John Dalton and grandparents on both sides of her family were "very strong" advocates of giving back to the community as was her husband.
"Being able to help people and connect the dots can lead to great outcomes for the community which gives me much joy and a lot of satisfaction," Barnes said.
"Leadership has taught me that if everyone does their little bit the difference it makes in the community quickly multiplies and with everyone sharing the load and working as a team, you can achieve so much more.
"A lot of people think that you have to be a high-powered person to do what I have done, but I'd like them to know that I'm just a very ordinary, down-to-earth person."
Born in Te Poi, Barnes' list of community services is extensive.
She was a member of the Fifth Primary Fundraising Committee from 1989 to 1991 and chaired the Mill Crescent Kindergarten from 1985 to 1989.
From 1998 to 2013, Barnes was a member of the Matamata Public Relations Association Committee. From 2003 to 2004 she also chaired the Matamata Centennial Committee.
She served in local government for 18 years from 2001.
Barnes was elected to the Matamata-Piako District Community Board in 2001 and was also board chairwoman until elected a Matamata ward councillor in 2004.
In 2013, she became the first female mayor of Matamata-Piako District Council and served for two terms until Ash Tanner was elected as the new mayor in 2019.
Barnes has also been a Justice of the Peace since 2013.
She was co-chair of the Local Government New Zealand's Rural Provincial Committee and the Rural Zone representative on the Local Government National Council Board and has been the patron of the Matamata Menz Shed since 2013.
Her leadership roles also include being an inaugural trustee and chairwoman of the Matamata Community Resource Centre from 2004 and 2007 and a 2014 founding member of the Matamata Apprenticeship Training Enterprise.
Barnes, who has now retired from local government duties still has business and personal interests in the Matamata-Piako district.
She said she was just as passionate today about the Matamata-Piako district as she was when she first took office.
She said there were plenty of opportunities for others to step up to serve the community.
"Don't underestimate the small undertakings or small acts of community work which together is helping create a great network right across the fabric of our community."
