Hokianga rangatira John Klaricich (81) joined a tiny elite yesterday when he received his second royal honour, in recognition of the extraordinary contribution he has made to his community.
Mr Klaricich, who became a Companion of the Queen's Service Order in 1989 for services to the public, has now beennamed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Maori and the community, and still says he gets far more out of community work than he puts in.
The award recognised those who had supported him, including his family, and the many people who had voted for him in public office over the years, he said.
"It's the personal satisfaction that gives me just as much pleasure as anything else," he added.
"I come from a background of starting school at seven and leaving at 13, so every organisation or body I became involved with was a big learning curve for me.
"It was about being able to be accepted by all those professional people on those groups. Being used as a reference point by them in all our discussions was very rewarding. I feel quite good about that, and I have made a lot of friends from those bodies I served on."
Mr Klaricich served two terms as chairman of the Hokianga County Council and four with the Far North District Council, the last two as deputy Mayor (1998-2004). He was a member of the Waitangi National Trust Board from 1989-2007 and was involved with the NZ Historic Places Trust from 1990-2002, chairing the trust's Maori Heritage Council for 10 of those years.
He served three terms with the NZ Conservation Authority, was a member of the Minister of Conservation's advisory committee to the national heritage review, and a member of Transit NZ from 1989-91. He now chairs the Hokianga Harbour Foreshore Committee and Waiwhatawhata Pakanae Maori Burial Reservation.
Since 2004 he has chaired Te Hua o te Kawariki Trust, which represents four Far North marae with a focus on local Maori tourism ventures and establishing a Maori cultural centre in the Opononi area.
Mr Klaricich said the award was as much for his wife Lil and whanau, who had stood behind him in everything he did, as it was for him.
"I've also got to meet so many people that the average New Zealander may not get to meet, and that has been quite satisfying," he said.
