On the last day of 2015, life's suddenly become a 'bit hectic” for Bruce Cronin after being named one of the 179 New Zealanders – including retired All Black captain Richie McCaw – on the 2016 New Year Honours list today.

The Tauranga resident will receive The Queen's Service Medal for his services to the community in his role as Trust manager of the Bay of Plenty Community Trust (BayTrust) from 1997 to 2014.

Bruce Cronin is one of several Bay residents to be named on the New Year Honours list for 2016.

Bruce has been trustee and deputy chair of Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust from 1996 to 2015. Previously he was general manager of TrustBank Bay of Plenty from 1991 to 1996. He has also been chair of the Western Bay of Plenty Disability Support Trust.

In 2009 he was appointed a foundation director of Financial Services Complaints Ltd, an independent not-for-profit dispute resolution service, and was recently reappointed for a further two-year term. There is also a university scholarship in his name to mark his services to the community.

Bruce was overseas when he received his prestigious letter in the mail, informing him of his nomination.

'There was a huge pile of mail and among the bills was a letter from internal affairs telling me my name had been put forward for the honours list, asking if I was comfortable about that and if there were any dark secrets in my past that they should be aware of!

'So I responded and said I'd be delighted, and no, there was nothing in the past!”

Not long after, Bruce received another letter from Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae informing him that he had been awarded the QSM, followed by a letter from Prime Minister John Key offering his congratulations.

'It's all go!” says Bruce.

So how did it feel to be singled out for his contribution to the community?

'It's funny, two main emotions really. One is delight because you hear of people getting these things and you never imagine you'll get one, but also a bit embarrassed too because there are so many people doing so much good in the country and I think, ‘Oh gee, do I really deserve this?'

'But it's really lovely! I'm on cloud nine!”

After leading the All Blacks to victory in two consecutive Rugby World Cups, Richie has made this year's New Year Honours List 2016.

Fellow Bay residents receiving a Queen's Service Medal is Valma Hallam for her services to people with Alzheimer's and dementia, which she has been providing support for in the Tauranga area for the past 30 years.

Wayne Moultrie is on the list for serving the Mt Maunganui community for more than 40 years in a number of clubs, including the Mt Maunganui Jaycees for 10 years, chairing the Mt Maunganui Rugby and Football Clubs, committee member of the Surf Life Saving Club, competing in the World Masters Surf Life Saving Championships, and President of the Residents and Ratepayers Association.

Iris Thomas is being award a QSM for her work in organising some of Tauranga's most successful fundraising events, including the Placemakers 24-Hour Charity Relay from 1993 to 2002 and the Women's Annual Walk 4 Breast Cancer from 2003 to 2011. Also on the list is Neil Craig, founder of Craig's Investment partners, who is to become an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Among a number of achievements, Neil served on the Board of the New Zealand Stock Exchange at a time of significant restructuring. His contribution to the development of a successful stock exchange and the wider New Zealand capital markets is well acknowledged within the investment industry. He helped establish and grow the local economic development agency Priority One and championed the establishment and development in Tauranga of one of New Zealand's largest angel investors, Enterprise Angels, which he currently chairs.

Jim Barker is to be an officer for services to the transport industry and philanthropy, having established Otorohanga Transport Ltd in 1963. He has since expanded this business to become one of the biggest locally owned and operated freight transport company in New Zealand, and holds the position of chairman of the Barker Group.

And professor Mere Berryman is to be recognised for her work on addressing disparities in education achievement of Māori students. She was instrumental in establishing and leading Te Kotahitanga research and professional development programme, which aims to raise the achievement of Māori students in secondary schools and became director of the programme in 2012, after serving as the professional development director since 2001.

A number of iconic New Zealanders have made the list this year, including Richie McCaw, who is to receive the highest form of recognition in the 2016 New Year Honours with an appointment to the Order of New Zealand (ONZ). The retiring All Blacks captain turns 35 today and is the youngest person to be appointed a member of the order.

For a full list for the New Year Honours List 2016, visit here.