Eva's helping hand spans two cultures

Dannevirke's Eva Wright lives by a simple philosophy: "If I can I will."

Mrs Wright has been awarded a Queen's Service Medal in the Queen's Birthday honours list for her services to the community.

"I believe that if you can help someone, you help them."

"I get my rewards and the Queen's Service Medal is a great honour and I'm very humbled."

Mrs Wright gives practical help in many ways to people in the local community, especially those coping with cancer. She also provides cultural advice to volunteers supporting Maori families with cancer and has been a justice of the peace since 1993 and was a member of victim support for 17 years.

"All these things are close to my heart and I believe, if I can, I will. That's just the way I am," she said.

"But when I learned of my Queen's Birthday honour I was shocked. I simply like meeting people and for me it's always a learning curve and you're never too old to learn, even from younger ones. I feel honoured to be involved in both Maori and European cultures. To me they're just people.

"God has given me a gift which means I feel comfortable with all cultures."

A stalwart of the Catholic Church and a kaumatua of St Joseph's School, Mrs Wright is also kept busy supporting the St Vincent de Paul Society and is a popular celebrant at funerals and weddings of all denominations.