Tauranga local Bryce Dinneen is being recognised for his ongoing services toward disabled people, by being made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King's birthday honours list.

Bryce first established his Wish 4 Fish charitable trust in 2011, which provides fishing trips for those with physical and mental disabilities or impairments.

He says the inspiration came from the trust through his belief in the water's ability to promote well-being and healing.

'My two passions as a human being are being out on the water, and helping people's well-being. The water is a special, magical place. Every time I go out, I become a better person.

'I've also seen through my involvement with Wish 4 Fish how the water can positively change other people as well.”

Bryce became a C4 tetraplegic after a shallow water diving accident in 2007, but is using his love for the water to help others in the disabled community.

'It's a double edged sword, but I believe it's a place which has amazing healing attributes, and at the end of the day, we do live on a couple of islands, so the water is always at our front door.”

The water doesn't do all the healing according to Bryce. He says the comradery and banter people have while out fishing or out on the water is a huge part of the process.

'I've seen people go out and become comfortable with having those tough conversations which people sometimes don't want to have.”

Bryce says his biggest accomplishment is fundraising for a $2.4 million 18 metre custom made boat, which is able to take 45 people with disabilities including their carers out on the water.

The boat has a wide variety of loading systems to allow for wheelchair access, a wheelchair access lift, a full-loop gantry crane to allow toilet access to all, beds, and fishing gear catered to those with limited mobility.

Bryce also has received the volunteer of the year award from the TECT Community Awards for his work with the Wish 4 Fish trust.

In the future, Bryce says he would like to continue his efforts into promoting well-being across Aotearoa, and start new projects, such as his new charitable trust named Tangaroa.

'Tangaroa is a new platform where we host people for three days and two nights out on the water at an amazing location in Whangaroa, where we provide both clinical and holistic wrap-around services for their health and well-being.

'We will uplift people, host them, and get them in touch with a psychologist or someone with a more holistic approach such as a mirimiri or traditional healing. Whether it's depression, burnout or anxiety, we'll aim to help some of those challenges people have.”

Bryce says his services to disabilities have been 'an amazing ride” and he will continue to be an advocate for the community, along with anyone else going through a tough time through his new trust.

'I love a challenge. But the ability to see people change their lives is what has kept me going. Seeing the joy in the disabled community when we would facilitate people and their loved ones out on the water has been so rewarding, but this space needs a whole lot of work.

'I just want to continue to get stuck in and make a difference. I am totally grateful for this award, and totally thankful for all the amazing support people who have facilitated my journey to get here. I've also got an amazing group of friends who have helped me.

'I also hope this acknowledgement will help give other people with disabilities some light and a voice, as they sometimes don't. Things are changing, but we need to have a healthy conversation about it moving forward that's for sure.”

For more information or to get in touch with the Tangaroa Trust, visit their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/thetangaroatrust.