Humble community hero Hinekakaho Averill Manuel-Kohn honoured with QSM

COMMUNITY WORKER: Hinekakaho Averill Manuel-Kohn, pictured with a carving of Te Kawiti the eponymous ancestor of the hapu Ngati Korutakiaka, was awarded a Queen's Service Medal. Photo/Supplied.

Hinekakaho Averill Manuel-Kohn's resolute dedication to her community has seen her gain a Queen's Service Medal, albeit somewhat reluctantly.

The Wairoa woman, known as Hine, made the 2018 New Year Honours list for her services to the community and Maori.

After pouring thousands of hours into the lives of those around her, she said she was surprised when she found out about the award.

"I wasn't expecting it. I did [the work] because I wanted to do it, not because of a medal."

Throughout the past three decades Mrs Manuel-Kohn established and developed a range of initiatives in Wairoa covering justice, community advocacy, iwi Maori development and social service delivery.

Her work naturally flowed from following in her mother's footsteps, she said.

"My mother was the same so it was something we were brought up with. We were all involved in some form of social services and it really stemmed from my mother; monkey see, monkey do."

Since the 1980s she had been involved with counselling and victim support services and, after some closed down in recent years, continues to support or maintain them on a voluntary basis.

"When you have the knowledge it's there to be shared, it's not there for you alone. You learn these things in order to give back to the people. What you learn you give out. That's what I believe anyway."

She is currently a member of Tatau Tatau branch of the Tairoa Marae Maori Women's Welfare League and a trustee on the board of the Community Law Centre.

What stood out the most in the community work she had done was working with Victim Support, she said.

"I'm interested in people and helping is a two-way thing. What you give out, you get back. It's simple."

"Victim Support is still going but it's all changed now. It's become more like a business now, it's not the same as it used to be."

The Wairoa woman said she still has community commitments to keep up with nowadays, but enjoys tending to her beehive after discovering a newfound interest in the insects.