Former builder and Maketu local Shane Beech didn't think a simple task of helping to build a fire station for the small Western Bay of Plenty township would lead to the Queen's Service Medal.

But that's exactly what happened this morning with the Chief Fire Officer being named on this morning's Queen's Birthday Honours.

Maketu local Shane Beech's love of his town has seen him recognised with a Queen's Birthday Honour. Photo: File.

Shane has been awarded the Queen's Service Medal for his service to the New Zealand Fire Service.

It's been a 27 year career and s something Shane is passionate about, but it wasn't a planned career move, in fact it was a part-time gig of just helping to hammer in a few nails to help build the Maketu Fire Station.

'It was more to do with my skills at the time. I was a qualified builder and Maketu were building a new fire station.

'The Chief [Fire Officer] of the day sort of ear marked me and said ‘Shane, I think you should come and give us a hand and become a fire-fighter and while you're there, lets help start building a new fire station'.

'I thought I'd get away with knocking in a few nails and then just move on. But 27 years later I'm still here and taken over the job as chief as well.”

Shane has been a driving force behind the development of the Maketu Brigade from a small 6m x 3m tin garage with 'creepy crawlies” in it and one fire appliance, to a Brigade including a modern pump appliance, a light rescue tender for road crashes and general rescue work, and a dedicated ambulance including medically qualified volunteer responders.

His passion for his home town and the people who live their drives him he says.

'I love the community I live in and to help and put back into it is where I get my buzz.”

Shane has put thousands of voluntary hours into building and renovating the fire station, including recent additions to house jet skis and boats for the Coastguard.

He has received numerous brigade awards for attendance at the most callouts each year. He is one of the founding members of Maketu Volunteer Sea Rescue Service established in 2002 (now Maketu Coastguard) and has been president since 2008.

Shane also played a major role in sourcing and constructing the EastPack Rescue Coastguard boat in 2003. He's been a member of the Maketu Community Board for the past four years and has been the chairman.

He has also been involved with projects to repair the Maketu War Memorial and to improve the waterways around the town. As well as his community work, Shane owns the Maketu Beachside Café.

When he found out about his Queen's Service Medal he was shocked.

'It's a huge honour. I got the letter the other day asking if I would accept it or not and I was just blown away. Once I got over the initial shock of it, it was nice to be acknowledge for what you've done for the community.”

Ten other Bay of Plenty locals are named on this year's Queen's Birthday Honours they include; Mark Greenwood who is now an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Mark Greenwood, who in 1972 with wife Val, established a small private company, Genera Limited, at Mount Maunganui in 1972, has been award the Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to biosecurity.

Mark says he is surprised and honoured to receive the award. 'This is something to be proud of but I could not have achieved what has been done without the help of Val and many colleagues over the years.”

Mark has developed a highly respected reputation in the international biosecurity community as an expert in fumigation.

Today Genera Limited operates at ports throughout New Zealand and Australia, and has joint ventures in Fiji, New Caledonia and Thailand.

It was the first company to offer fumigant recapture in New Zealand and also pioneered the world's first use of in-transit fumigation of log ships using phosphine gas, which has saved thousands of tonnes of methyl bromide from being released into the atmosphere.

He has overseen the introduction of several other alternative forms of biosecurity treatment such as cylinderised phosphine and chemical-free heat treatment.

He instigated the formation Stakeholders in Methyl Bromide Reduction, an action group set up to research alternatives to methyl bromide.

He is also the New Zealand representative of the International Maritime Fumigation Organisation and sponsors pest control for 10 hectares of Stewart Island through Genera.

Tristan David Brebner from Ohope has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services in education.

He was New Zealand's longest serving principal at the time of his retirement in 2015, with 46 years of consecutive service across six different schools, the last of which being Edgecumbe Primary School in the Bay of Plenty.

Kent Jarman has also been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his service in life saving.

The Mount Maunganui resident has been involved in surf lifesaving for 48 years as a competitor, administrator and leader.

He has been involved with Surf Life Saving District and National teams as a team member, manager and coach. He is currently an Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) Operator, an IRB examiner and is involved in training and examining IRB personnel throughout New Zealand.

Hariata Hariet Paikea's services to health and Maori has seen the Rotorua resident being made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

She has worked tirelessly as a leader and mentor for the last 60 years, supporting the wellbeing, culture and health of her community.

Hariata has supported young people through her work as an advisor and kuia with the Horohoro School and Kohanga Reo, and as a foster parent. She played a fundamental role in the establishment of the Tipu Ora Health Centre in Rotorua.

Another Rotorua resident Tony Pope is now a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services in education.

Tony was principal of Selwyn Primary School in Rotorua for 20 years before retiring in 2011. During this time He implemented a number of initiatives to ensure the school facilities were available to the whole community, effectively making the school a community hub.

Tauranga resident Graham Young has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to education.

Graham was Principal of Tauranga Boys' College from 1985 through to 2008 and has since been Educational Leadership and Management Advisor at the University of Waikato.

He introduced a number of new concepts to the school, including having advanced students take university courses whilst still at school.

Graham was a driving force behind the construction of the Whare Wananga at the College as a place to learn Maori language and culture.

Adrienne Von Tunzelmann has been made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order. Photo: Supplied.

Adrienne Von Tunzelmann has been made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for her services in governance and community.

The Tauranga resident has made significant contributions to governance and management across public and not-for-profit sectors.

Adrienne has had policy leadership in key areas of government and in inter-government negotiations, working at the Treasury, Ministry of Justice, and Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

She has been National President of the Institute of Public Administration and Deputy Chair of the New Zealand College of Management.

Mark Bentham has received a Queen's Service Medal for his services to the New Zealand Fire Service.

The Welcome Bay resident joined Piopio Volunteer Fire Brigade in 1982 and at 25 years of age was appointed Chief Fire Officer from 1985 to 1995, one of the youngest CFOs in New Zealand at the time.

Mark stepped aside to allow other members of the Brigade to experience the CFO role and in 2003 following the resignation of Executive Officers in the Brigade he was reappointed as CFO until 2009.

In 2009 he stepped down to the role of Deputy CFO where he remained until resigning from the Fire Service in 2014.

Patrick Taylor has received a Queen's Service Medal for his services to the community.

The Bethleham resident has been involved in a wide range of voluntary activities in South Auckland since 1984. Patrick is known for building self-confidence, self-esteem and team ethics in young men, in his association with them through sports clubs, South Auckland schools and Rotary sponsored projects. He has been a Rotarian since 1987 as President and Board member at the Rotary Club of Botany East Tamaki.

For his services to the environment Jacob Van Dorsser has been awarded a Queen's Service Medal.

Jaap van Dorsser of Ngongotaha, who came to New Zealand from Holland as a 22-year-old in 1953 and took up a career with the New Zealand Forest Service, has received the Queen's Service Medal in recognition of his 40 years' of service to the environment.

Jaap works closely with regional and local councils and iwi as part of Progress Ngongotaha and the Awahou Stream Care group. He has donated thousands of native seedlings and built walkways and bridges to enhance plantings, and is an enthusiastic teacher, regularly taking sessions with schools and other community volunteers.

'I am delighted that somebody thought I was worthy of recognition and nominated me for this award,” says Jaap.