The voluntary operator of Bluff Fishermen's Shore Station for 34 years was awarded the Outstanding Contribution Trophy at the New Zealand Water Safety awards dinner in Queenstown on Saturday night.
''It's a very humbling and moving experience,'' Mrs Leask said from her home in Bluff yesterday, where the glass sculpture trophy has pride of place.
''I look after so many people visiting our country or locals, and for this to have happened to me is a shock.
''Then the amazing part of it all was a group of young fellows got up and paid their respects to me by doing a haka.
''That was just absolutely amazing - you can't believe it until you're in that situation how people must feel. It's so appreciated.
''We do what we do because we enjoy it.''
Mrs Leask said she and her husband worked in the commercial fishing industry for many years and had a good understanding of the need for maritime information when the original station closed down.
The couple picked up the service before the licence lapsed and while the service demands her constant attention, modern technology means she can take a break and still look after the skippers at sea.
The Bluff Fishermen's Shore Station signal covers Foveaux Strait to Stewart Island, as well as parts of Fiordland, coastal Otago, the Chatham Islands, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Australia. Southland fishing boats to private super yachts cruising the world rely on her broadcasts.
''I give out weather forecasting, if people ask something and I can help them I will, port entry rules, I do customs entry and departure here in Bluff, or if people are going to enter somewhere else, I'll notify Customs in that area,'' she said.
One thing not on her radar is retirement.
Mrs Leask said she would continue to operate the station ''for many years to come''.
Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Matt Claridge, of Wellington, said there had not been a more deserving recipient in the history of the awards than Mrs Leask.
''Here's a person who is on call 24/7, who fields up to 160 calls from boat users on a busy day and has assisted in more than 110 incidents, and she's been doing it for more than three decades on a voluntary basis,'' Mr Claridge said.
''Meri has made a significant contribution to the safety of the skippers and passengers on board Southland's vessels.''
In other awards at the conclusion of the International Water Safety and Aquatic Education Conference, Surfing New Zealand won the awareness award for its ''Have A Go Surfing Days'', while Coastguard Boating Education's safe boating programme won the prevention award.
The education award was won by Swim Safe Southland.
