NEW YEAR HONOURS LIST: 9 in HB honoured

LLOYD BEECH, MNZM Lloyd Beech has been everywhere, man.
From the peaks of North Wales to the desolate beauty of Antarctica, the offshore islands of New Zealand to Peru, the Taradale outdoors man has journeyed to every continent on Earth.
And what he has learned from his travels, here and abroad, he has kept with him and put to use in work protecting New Zealand's ecosystems.
A member and chairman of the East Coast Hawke's Bay Conservation Board for nine years until 2007, he was involved in many environmental projects that have seen protected areas established or enhanced.
The East Coast Conservation Management Strategy, the Te Urewera National Park Management Plan, the establishment of the Te Tapuwae o Rongakako Marine Reserve, and the establishment of of the Ruakituri Wilderness Area, within Te Urewera National Park, were all projects Mr Beech had a hand in.
For his services to the environment and the community he has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the 2009 New Year Honours.
Mr Beech said the letter notifying him of the honour and asking if he would accept it came as a complete surprise. But it was one he was happy to accept on behalf of the many people who volunteered their time to have an input into the management of public lands.
``It was absolutely not expected,' he said.
``With the way we administer our lands we do have the opportunity to be involved, and with my experience I felt I could make a contribution to the management of our lands - I must have done something right.'
Mr Beech grew up on a farm in Taranaki, where his youth was spent in the bush, up rivers and on mountains.
He went on to become a telecommunications engineer, which also saw him traversing remote areas of the country.
``I was very aware of the environment I was working in, and as a mountaineer I have a good understanding of New Zealand as a landscape.
``When you walk up river valleys, through the bush to hill country, and maybe climb a mountain and then go home, you become very conscious of the environment.
``Basically you see the preciousness of it, the whole eco-system and the interdependence of it ... We have to understand it and preserve it.'
He was one of three in Hawke's Bay to become a Member of The New Zealand Order of Merit this year.
TOM MULLIGAN, MNZM
Being recognised in the New Year Honours could be seen as turning a bit of a corner for Tom Mulligan, who has been made a Member of The New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to Maori.
But it's not the sort of corner he might be expecting at age 72, where he and wife Pikihoro should be looking at a peaceful retirement in the home in which they've lived for more than 40 years at Matahiwi, near Clive.
The gong effectively sounds the start of another round of his battles for developing Maori rugby, after a New Zealand Rugby Union economics decision to pull the national Maori team from the Pacific Nations Cup.
It wasn't the only hit Mr Mulligan suffered in 2008, for he was also among the Hawke's Bay District Health Board members ``sacked' by the Labour Government.
But there's no question which cudgel he will be uplifting in the New Year as he sees the continuance of the Maori team as crucial - not only in the development of Maori players, but also in the development of rugby generally, and of young Maori men as strong citizens and leaders.
``We'll get a few people together to have a look at this decision,' he said, expressing his abhorrence of anything that could threaten the future of Maori rugby.
``We can't allow it to happen just like that.'
There is one significant difference from the past, in that this time he must campaign from outside the walls, unlike his many years in rugby administration - climbing the ranks from his youthful first election to the club committee at Clive, through being chairman of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union, and serving the Central region on the NZRFU council, to being the first Maori rugby director on the national union's new-era board.
Biographical notes released with the announcement of his MNZM point mainly to his extensive list of non-sporting credentials, including being chairman for six years of Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, long-term chairman of the trustees of Matahiwi Marae of Ngati Hawea (into which he married), a member of the Ahuriri Maori Executives and the Hawke's Bay Maori Tourism Trust, and his current position of deputy chairman of the NZ Maori Tourism Council.
But, born at Te Araroa on the East Coast and coming to Hawke's Bay first as a pupil of Te Aute College, he says it all started with the rugby club administration and his job at the Tomoana meatworks where he worked for 42 years.
``Hora taku toa he toa taki tahi, engari taku toa taki tini,' he said. ``I have not achieved on my own, I have achieved with the help of many others.'
DR DIANE MARA, MNZM
When Taradale-based educationalist and Pacific women's affairs leader Dr Diane Mara came to Hawke's Bay without a job, it was a reasonable bet her CV would sooner or later do the trick.
She soon found herself lecturing in early childhood education at the EIT.
But two years later the near-same CV has also pulled in a somewhat bigger fish, a New Year honour in the form of being made a Member of The New Zealand Order of Merit.
A first generation New Zealander of Tahitian descent, she was born in Auckland 57 years ago. A Kelston Girls' High pupil who moved from out west to teach in schools in South Auckland, she has been recognised for her service to the Pacific Islands community.
Education has clearly been the focus, and still is, whether it be a Victoria University doctoral thesis taking eight years' interviewing and assessing Pacific Island women in tertiary education, or her appointment this year as senior research manager for a three-year EIT project aimed at improving the well-being of children and youth in Hawke's Bay.
Somewhere, she hopes to turn her thesis into a book, but has published work that continues to be used in teacher-education courses throughout New Zealand.
Armed with a BA (education and psychology), she entered teaching at training college in Auckland, before 13 years in primary schools, conceding it was teaching not administration for her.
She lectured at the training college and, before coming to Hawke's Bay, was senior researcher at the New Zealand Council for Educational Research.
She will soon end four years of presidency of the Pacific Island women's council PACIFICA and looks forward to developing the recently established Napier branch, Tiare Ahuriri.
There's a similar type of national-local comparison between a former significant role with the National Screening Unit, and joining the Napier Family Centre, as a representative of All Saints Church.
Having moved to the region to be near her 17-year-old son, a Hohepa Home resident, Dr Mara has found even more reason to stay and says: ``Having come from Auckland, and Wellington for the past eight years, I thought it would be different here, but I love it. There's lots to do.'
ERNIE ROUSE, QSM
Napier's Ernie Rouse could also simply be called Mr Jazz or Mr Music - although he's not really one for titles.
Mr Rouse, 77, has never sought recognition for the years of service to the local and national entertainment industry. It was more a case of recognition seeking him - simply because he has done so much.
He was quietly chuffed to be awarded the Queen's Service Medal in the New Year Honours and those in the music industry have applauded the honour - unanimous in their praise for a man who has brought music to so many for so long.
Asked if he knew who had ``dobbed him in' for the award, Mr Rouse chuckled and said: ``I'm not sure but I've got a bit of an idea.'
When he got the call about three weeks ago, his reaction was one of amazement.
``I'm quite thrilled about it.'
For the past half-century, Mr Rouse has been an enthusiastic member of the great musical fraternity. His Ernie Rouse Trad Band was one of the most successful bands to come out of the Bay.
They recorded, starred on television, were regulars on radio, made the hit charts, supported acts like The Seekers, delighted thousands of people through the years, and influenced many an aspiring young musician.
The band's prowess under Mr Rouse was such that reviews of their opening for The Seekers in front of 15,000 people in 1968 spoke of how they ``nearly stole the show'.
His musical determination also saw him restart the Hawke's Bay Jazz Club Big Band in 1991 after it had been in recess for several years, and he was also a staunch and devoted member of the Napier Tech Band during the 80s, as a player and conductor, becoming director of music in 1984. He also embraced the jazz ingredient of the Art Deco Weekends.
At their musical peak, the Trad Band toured the country extensively and played on cruise ships - they even serenaded jazzman Kenny Ball as he arrived at Hawke's Bay Airport for a concert in Napier (Ball was delighted).
Although the band effectively retired in 1984 after a reunion concert, they came together for an acclaimed, and effervescent outing at the Church Road Jazz Concert in 2004 ... Mr Rouse leaving his sick bed to take part.
While the band may have wrapped up, Mr Rouse is still playing. As he has done for more than 20 years, and without seeking acknowledgement, he plays at rest homes for the residents each week, and every Thursday at St Lukes Church.
A few weeks ago he had a minor stroke and said he hadn't been too good, but was getting better through playing every day.
``I'll be playing in the rest homes again in a week or so.'
He is a trouper, no doubt about that.
KEVIN STEWART, QSM
Hastings Police Sergeant Kevin Stewart may have helped to save the life of a wounded president while serving in Timor Leste (East Timor) this year but he says ``it was my job' and all in the line of duty.
Mr Stewart has been awarded the Queen's Service Medal for services to the New Zealand Police in the New Year Honours.
He joined the police in 1997 and served in the Solomon Islands in 2005 before taking part in the United Nations mission to Timor Leste from October 2007 to April 2008.
He volunteered for service overseas because he wanted to gain experience policing in a different part of the world.
But he was surprised when he received notice of his nomination for the award in November.
``Just being nominated was surprising considering the calibre of the other police officers I was with.'
His 11 years in the police force had been preceded by 10 years in the army and before that three years as a corrections officer.
``You could say I've served the Queen my entire life,' he said, tongue firmly planted in cheek.
As the operations commander of Bercora Station in Timor Leste, he was one of the first to respond to a shooting at the president's residence on February 11 this year. He arrived to find civilians fleeing from the area ``screaming blue murder', and did not know whether he was walking into an ambush from waiting rebels.
He found President Jose Ramos-Horta shot in the back and lying down on the side of the road and helped to get him to an ambulance.
He administered first aid to a Timorese Army officer who had been shot in the back of the head. He later discovered the Timorese officer had lived and been sighted in Australia.
``I heard the Timorese soldier was walking around Darwin buying fish and chips which was amazing. It shows the tenacity of the people.'
Mr Stewart said he had simply done his duty. ``Things that I have done in Timor and the Solomons is what I expect me to do and that's what makes the award so surprising.' GARY SEVERINSEN, QSM
Back in 1975 when he was in his final year at Napier Boys' High School, Gary Severinsen and a mate decided to do something about the lack of a school canteen.
``We decided to organise a work day to build one,' he said. ``That was my first venture ... and it was successful.'
It was the first of many ventures - carried out voluntarily - through the years which have now been recognised with his Queen's Service Medal for service to the community.
For more than 30 years, Mr Severinsen has been involved with boards, committees, societies and organisations. He has coached sports, worked as a volunteer St John Ambulance officer for six years, been involved in scouting and has held a string of positions in education.
And all the while maintaining his roles as a teacher and a parent.
``I just enjoy doing things,' was the way he put it. He has been teaching since 1979 and some posts through the years were at country schools - places where teachers effectively had to roll up their sleeves and do more than just turn up and teach.
He has worked as a principal and is now head of mathematics at Hukarere Girls' College. He has served on three boards of trustees and has been an active member of the New Zealand Educational Institute, Parent Teachers' Association and the Principals' Association.
A keen advocate of sport, he has coached cricket, soccer, athletics, gymnastics and tennis.
He said the only work he had to pull back from was the ambulance work as busy night shifts often cut into his working day.
While other volunteers who had been confronted by traumatic scenes could avail themselves of counselling, he had to get off to work.
``Sometimes that wasn't too good.'
A member of the Taradale Rotary Club and Hawke's Bay Lottery Board Committee, Mr Severinsen said his family was supportive of the time he devoted to community service.
``My wife is also involved in community organisations,' he said, adding his eldest son (who is also a maths teacher) is community minded.
``We're seeing a bit of that in him already.'
HAAMI MOEKE,QSM
Those who have worked with carver and kaumatua Haami Moeke may regard his Queen's Service Medal in the New Year Honours as his ultimate accolade.
The man himself simply carries on, as one does at 68 and having to spend five hours three times a week hooked up to a dialysis unit combating diabetes.
Answering the phone at his son's home in Hastings, for a few seconds he wonders what the call is all about, why there would be a story in the paper, and laughs.
``They've missed the bus a bit,' he says. ``I got one of these a couple of years ago, from the Napier Pilot City Trust.'
Mr Moeke is of Ngati Awa and Ngati Pukeko origins in Bay of Plenty, and from Whakatane, but the results of his knowledge and skills can be seen across the Kahungunu rohe of Hawke's Bay, notably the development of the urban marae, Hastings' Te Aranga o Heretaunga in Flaxmere and Napier's Pukemokimoki Marae.
Tangoio, Omahu, Kohupatiki, Matahiwi, Mihiroa, and the EIT campus marae, are also on the list.
A special feature has been the modern approach, particularly with new marae, of developing tikanga and kaupapa with up-to-the-minute history and themes.
Showing no sign of letting up this year, he and 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours MNZM recipient Tuahine Joe Northover have been involved in the restoration of 15th-century fortress Te Hakakino at Waimarama.
It has been transformed, in a year, from a paddock to a tourist attraction.
Mr Moeke came to Hawke's Bay in the 1960s to work at Whakatu meatworks, and developed his interest in carving from a workshop in Hastings in 1968.
The works' closure in 1986 spurred him to carve more, and also to get involved in education, helping kohanga reo staff become fluent in te reo Maori.
Mr Moeke has been having dialysis treatment for four years.
``It's part of life. It gives me a chance to catch up on reading and the other things I can't do around home,' he said.
TAIME PAREANGA SAMUEL, QSM
Almost 40 years of service to the Cook Islands community in Hawke's Bay has resulted in Flaxmere woman Taime Pareanga Samuel being awarded a Queen's Service Medal.
But she's not one to rest on her laurels, and at 60, she will keep helping people and learning.
The best may be still to come, for it was only in 2006 that she qualified with a Diploma in Early Childhood Education. It is being put to good use at the first licensed Cook Islands pre-school facility in Hawke's Bay, where she has been supervisor since it opened last year.
She has lived in the Bay since arriving from Rarotonga in 1971. With husband Teatu and four children, she became involved with their schools in Flaxmere.
Several years on the committee at Peterhead prepared her for roles at Flaxmere College, where her children were foundation pupils.
It included more than five years as chairman of the Board of Trustees, of which she is still a member.
Mrs Samuel is an executive member of the Cook Islands Community Centre Society, has served on regional Cook Islands councils, has held almost every available position on the Hawke's Bay Cook Islands Sports Association, including representing her community on the New Zealand Cook Island Sports Federation.
She has also been an announcer on Cook Island Community Radio for 13 years, and involved with the Cook Islands Hawke's Bay Prison Prayer Group.
``It was a surprise,' she said.
``I thank the Lord, and all those people who make you want to help them.'
JANET PAKU, QSM
When former Hawke's Bay Prison manager Peter Grant met up with former workmate Janet Paku recently, she was telling him something exciting was happening - but she couldn't let on.
She wasn't to know Mr Grant knew exactly what she was on about.
``I nominated her,' he said.
The outcome is a New Year Honours Queen's Service Medal, recognising her service to the Department of Corrections. She entered the service as a nurse at Napier Prison 30 years ago, and was charge nurse when the much larger Hawke's Bay Prison at Mangaroa was opened in 1989.
But more than anything, the QSM recognises the cultural advisory role into which she stepped in the mid 1990s to help establish the trailblazing Maori Focus Unit. That experiment 11 years ago is now duplicated in several other prisons.
Originally from Tolaga Bay, she lives with husband and former railway engine driver Mike in Napier, where she has been most of the time since entering St Joseph's Maori Girls College.
Mrs Paku retired this year.
``But she is kuia of the Maori Focus Unit, which is not really the sort of role you can retire from,' Mr Grant said. Her work in ensuring cultural protocols and liaison were observed at the new prison from the outset was an important factor in the running of the jail and it's role in trying to reduce reoffending.
Mrs Paku still conducts cultural forums, advising and mentoring staff on dealing with cultural situations.