A family tragedy this week prevented Flaxmere's "ambassador of love" Henare O'Keefe from receiving the New Zealander of the Year Local Heroes Award.
He won the honour ahead of two other finalists chosen for their work in two of the country's biggest tragedies.
Mr O'Keefe's brother, Ben, died after a heart attack suffered while the two were exercising on Tuesday night, and the award was accepted on his behalf by Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule at a gala dinner last night in Auckland.
The other two finalists were Pike River mine disaster families representative Bernie Monk, and Christchurch earthquakes Farmy Army leader John Hartnell.
Mr O'Keefe said today he had not told his family about the award because he wanted the next few days to be about his brother.
He said Ben had been a "musician of some note" and his friends working in the entertainment industry had come from across New Zealand to put on a concert for the O'Keefe family at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere last night, where his body had been laying in state.
"We had people here of the Shadracks (showband) and Howard Morrison Quartet era," Mr O'Keefe said.
His son, opera singer Philip Rhodes, also arrived home from overseas to sing at the concert.
"Ben played all kinds of instruments, he was only one of two Maori conductors, the other is Rim D Paul, who are qualified to conduct the likes of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra," Mr O'Keefe said. "To be honest, Ben was better than I am, he was an inspirational, kind, loving and gentle man."
Ben's body would be taken to Mihiroa Marae in Pakipaki to be with his wife's family, on to Waimarama Marae for a brief visit and then to nearby Hakakino Pa where he had fronted cruise ship passenger tours of the area. His final resting place would be with his father at Waimarama Marae.
Mr O'Keefe, who is now into his second term as a councillor for the Hastings District Council, said when the time was right he wanted to use his award to highlight the positive activities in Flaxmere.
At the awards ceremony last night, Mr Yule drew a few tears in an emotional speech explaining the absence of Mr O'Keefe from the $170-a-head dinner, and the work done by Mr O'Keefe to help those struggling in the suburb which he had represented for almost six years.
Guests were told of a man who drew on his experiences of growing-up in a lower socio-economic household to commit himself to combating community, social and family failures and trying to end violence and poverty.
His highest profile effort was an Enough is Enough rally protesting violence in 2008, but there had been years of commitment, including providing a home for more than 200 foster children.
He said recently Mr O'Keefe had been called-in to help a prison inmate who was having difficulties, possibly putting the man's release in jeopardy.
The inmate told Mr O'Keefe he had no family to go to.
"Henare told him I'll be your father," Mr Yule said, adding he understood the inmate is now looking forward to release and new hope in the community.
Napier social change agitator Pat Magill was a finalist in the awards' Senior of the Year category, which was won by Dunedin community employment networker Malcolm Cameron.
Mr Magill told the audience how the Napier Pilot City Trust was established to promote Napier as a model city for resolving social issues and problems with violence.
The supreme award, the third New Zealander of the Year Award, went to Weta Workshop developer Sir Richard Taylor. Efforts in Christchurch earthquake recovery were recognised with the Young New Zealander of the Year Award to student army motivator Sam Johnson. Paeroa was named Community of the Year.