Dunedin city councillor Neil Collins has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to broadcasting, local government and the community.
Cr Collins (67) said he was "very pleasantly surprised and delighted" by the honour, which adds to the Queens Service Medal he was awarded in 1990 for community services.
With 51 years in broadcasting, after starting as a 16-year-old volunteer announcer on private radio station 4XD, Cr Collins helped set up Radio Dunedin in 1990, and is the station's morning host.
He has been involved in 16 radiothon and eight telethon appeals during his career, compered nationwide tours by many international artists, acted as master of ceremonies for hundreds of local events, and assisted numerous charities and sports organisations with fundraisers.
He has interviewed or worked with a who's who of international acts, from the Beatles to Bill Cosby.
Cr Collins hosted Southern Television's Marketplace show from 1994 to 1997, and produced television commercials for the station.
He is a trustee of Age Concern, a life member of the Otago Radio Association, board member of the Fortune Theatre and was patron of the Otago-Southland Camellia Society.
He has been a city councillor for 18 years in the South Dunedin ward, and is deputy chairman of the council planning and environment committee.
He says his greatest achievement is "living my life in a public goldfish bowl, and staying afloat".
