The highest New Year honour bestowed in the Bay of Plenty this year goes to Neil William Sole, who is a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

He has been made a member of the order for services to the Warkworth and Katikati communities for more than 50 years.

Neil was founding chair of the Community Patrols of New Zealand, and worked to form a strong national body. He was involved in a range of community bodies is Warkworth including scouts and junior rugby.

Husband and wife Enoka and Ataraita Ngatai of Tauranga say their Queen Service Medals came as a huge surprise and they are very humbled to receive them.

Neil was involved in local body politics in both Warkworth and Katikati for a total of eight terms. Since moving to Katikati in 1999, he has been involved in the formation of the Katikati Night Owls, a community patrol that aims to improve community safety.

In 2006 Neil was awarded the New Zealand Police Certificate of appreciation for Outstanding Contribution to the Safety of New Zealand Communities.

Four Bay of Plenty residents received Queens Service Medals in the New Year's Honours list; Joan Grace Kehely, Murray Kenneth Marshal Hansen, and Enoka and Ataraita Ngatai of Matapihi.

Joan Kehely's honour is for services to local body affairs. Joan was elected to the Tauranga County Council in 1986, and served a term as deputy mayor of the Western Bay of Plenty District Council from 1989, and mayor from 1992 to 1996. Joan was appointed to the Bay of Plenty District Health Board in 1998, and championed and guided the establishment of the Bay Health Foundation. She continues to be involved with the foundation which has built community-funded cancer centres in Tauranga and Whakatane.

Murray Hansen's honour is for services to the community. He has been a Justice of the Peace in Kawerau for 45 years and a member of the Kawerau Rotary Club for 46 years.

Murray has mentored many new JPs and is an active member of the Eastern Bay of Plenty Justices of the Peace Association. When Kawerau was founded in the 1950s Murray drew a ballot to begin a hardware and home appliance store, and has since shown a strong commitment to the community through the many Rotary activities he has been involved with as well as numerous local committees of which he has been a member.

Murray was a driving force behind the establishment of the Kawerau Community Association and the town's first community newspaper.

Enoka and Ataraita Ngatai received their honours for services to Maori.

Enoka Ngatai was chair of the Tauranga Moana Maori Trust Board for 12 years and was involved in setting up the Turirangi Te Kani Scholarship for tertiary students, run through the Tauranga Moana Maori Trust. The scholarships give $750 - $2000 to six students per year.

Enoka was also chair of the Te Awanio Hauora on Matakana Island for 15 years. Enoka has contributed to the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, the University of Waikato and Tauranga Boys' College.

Ataraita Ngatai is also involved in setting up the Turirangi Te Kani Scholarships for tertiary students and is the current chair of Te Awanui Hauora, which operates on Matakana Island.

Atairata helped establish Te Matahauariki o Tauranga Moana, a Maori education organisation dedicated to improving the educational achievements of Maori students from early childhood to tertiary levels. Atairata has contributed to the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, the University of Waikato and Tauranga Boys' College.