Mike Keefe. Photo/supplied
Mike Keefe's drive to make people's lives better and his dedication to the Rotorua community has spanned more than three decades.
That is why he has been awarded the Queen's Service Medal for services to the community, after being nominated by his "dear friend" Jean McGaffin, who died earlier this month. Keefe has spent the last 30 years volunteering his time and energy to a wide range of community organisations, including the Rotorua Community Youth Centre Trust and the Rotorua Community Charity Trust. He has been a Justice of the Peace since 2000 and served more than 40 years with the New Zealand Police.
He was also a key player in the formation of the Whakatupato programme, an initiative providing national firearms safety training to remote and rural communities.
Keefe has helped establish various initiatives for "societal betterment" with an emphasis on youth health and service to low socio-economic groups.
Speaking with the Rotorua Daily Post from Northern Ireland, Keefe said the honour was "right up there with his greatest achievements".
"It's incredibly humbling. It's not something you expect to receive or be nominated for. You don't do things in the community for personal or monetary gain, you do it to help people.
"Rotorua is a small place but it's a bloody heavyweight when it comes to the number of people willing to help others in the community."
He said he had always been community-focused so it was not long after moving to Rotorua that he found himself involved with local committees.
"It was through those committees I met a dear friend of mine, Jean McGaffin. She was an incredible person to be around. She was so lively and loved being involved in the community. Her spirit was so infectious it was hard not to get involved.
"It was Jean who started the process for my honour so it is sad she didn't live to see it come to fruition. It really is an amazing tribute to her ability to get people involved in the community. She is someone I'll remember forever."
Keefe thought some of his desire to help others was influenced by his police background, but said he used to be "one of those old fashion police types where I'd think 'lock 'em up and throw away the key'".
"I don't think like that anymore. I've seen social injustice and I've come to recognise not everyone has the same playing field. The best way to prevent crime is helping young people so that cycle is broken."
Reflecting on the honour, Keefe said he could think of many Rotorua people who were just as deserving.
"I think one of the reasons this honour has been so humbling is because it is recognition not from your peers in your regular occupation but those in your community."
Keefe is looking forward to going back to Government House to receive his medal, describing it as "one of life's many 360s".
"I'm very familiar with the place having stood guard outside at night when I first started with the police."