The Malcam Charitable Trust founder is more than modest about his achievements. His selection for the award, which is designed to recognise those aged 60 and over who make a positive contribution to the country, had made him "uncomfortable".
When the letter arrived saying he had been nominated he felt honoured, but "binned it", not giving it another thought until emails arrived informing him he was a finalist.
"The whole world thinks it's great, except me. I like to keep below the parapet. I think we are a team. Everything is done as a team," he said.
Mr Cameron started the trust, which provides life skills and work experience programmes to disadvantaged youth, 17 years ago, after being made redundant from his job as a youth worker.
He believed people were being "far too politically correct about youth", and felt he could "easily identify with young people who were not succeeding at school."
"I can stand in these kids' shoes. I got sent as a fourth-former to spend a year with my grandmother and some maiden aunts to get me to scholastically improve myself. It was like ... [competing with] thunder. It didn't work.
"I wouldn't describe myself as a tearaway, but I've got an ADHD personality - my CV looks like the yellow pages for a small town, really. I set targets and once I've achieved them, I'm gone. The target I set myself was that the trust would not be needed by 2004, but I failed miserably."
Along with Malcam, Mr Cameron has been involved in the launch and or development of about 60 other programmes and trusts, including Conservation Corps, which had been going for 17 years, the Logan Park Services Academy, which had been running for 13 years, the Restore Recycling Emporium, and 4 Trades.
"I'm a huge multi-tasker. I'm only comfortable when I'm working on 10 to 12 things at a time.
"I've got a wife who gave me the freedom to fly. She is my hero," he said.
Work still started at 5am each day, 6am on weekends, and Mr Cameron was often working until 10pm, with no chance of stopping "until I die".
"It's like riding a bike. If I stop pedalling, I fall off the bike. If I don't work, I get sick."
He was now focused on youth employment and was "realistic enough" to understand partners of the trust would have to create those jobs through social enterprise and hopefully connect them to capitalism.
Other finalists in the award are Pat Magill, of Napier, and Don Mckenzie, of Waiheke Island.
Tony Brady, of Oamaru, is a semifinalist for his involvement in various economic, social and environmental organisations and schemes in his community.
The winner will be announced in Auckland on February 16.
