People at the heart of decades of work for Flaxmere's new MNZM

RECOGNITION: New MNZM Peter MacGregor said his motivation for decades of public service was "the people". PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN.

Its third time lucky for the humble Peter MacGregor, who has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to Maori and agriculture.

The Flaxmere resident said he felt very honoured to have received the Queens Birthday Honour.

This was not the first time Mr MacGregor had been recognised in such a way - he said he had declined the Queens Birthday honours the first time "some years ago", and the second time the required paperwork was not completed in time.

"This time the nominators were determined."

Although he had spent time in different sectors - including over 30 years in public service, around 10 in non-government organisations, and now his involvement with iwi - Mr MacGregor said his motivation was always the same:

"It's about the people.

"It's about offering the pathways for people to achieve. You lay the pathways for them to achieve what they want, not what others want for them."

Recently Mr MacGregor has been a contractor with Ngati Pahauwera Development Trust, and has developed the delivery of the River Restoration project for Mohaka, Waikare and Waihua rivers.

His career before this included holding various positions within the Department of Māori Affairs including as Manager Housing and Land Development, Assistant Director Community Services and Housing, and Senior Housing Manager and Director Employment and Training through the 1970s and 1980s.

He was also a regional manager with Te Puni Kokori between 1990 and 2004 for both Takitimu and Wellington regions.

He developed the Joint Working Agreement between the then Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Te Puni Kokiri and worked with Manaaki Whenua on local and regional projects.

Then from 2005 to 2012, Mr MacGregor was strategic manager, Māori and Tagata Pasifika for the Agriculture Industry Training Organisation.

During this time he designed the Industry Training Organisation's Māori Strategy from scratch and assisted with embedding this strategy throughout the organisation.

He was involved in several initiatives including the Te Kuiti Māori Farm Managers Diploma and the development of the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer competition.

Although there were a number of proud moments over his career, developing the young Maori farmer competition had been his most recent "great achievement".

"It's about people in farming, it's about young people, it's about contributing to Aotearoa New Zealand," he said.

"I think it really reinforces that contribution that Maori have, and will continue to make to the economic climate of this country. It signals to young Maori, and young people interested in farming that it's a career, not a job."

Mr MacGregor is also a trustee of several Ahuwhenua Trusts and is an advisor trustee to the Hinemanu/Ruaka/Te Upokori Charitable Education Trust.