His wife, Heather Paterson, died in February this year aged 60.
In many ways, the fashion design awards, being held this year at the Gore Town and Country Club stadium on July 24 and 25, were her awards.
''It's going to be a pretty emotive journey for all of us this year, because Heather's name is just intrinsically linked with the Hokonui fashion awards - that she built,'' Mr Paterson said said.
Mrs Paterson's involvement with the design awards dates to their inception in 1988, when she modelled in the awards.
In 1989, she won a section and in 1990 she won three sections and took the overall design award.
She began judging in 1996 and started to run the awards in 1998.
He had always been in the background, working as a team with his wife, and as such he still knew the event better than anyone, Mr Paterson said.
He took on the organising role last year when his wife was unwell, but she was still there ''in the background'' to advise when any issues arose.
There was some pressure among the 25 volunteers - from those involved in stage management and choreography to the wardrobe team - who had worked on the show in the past to ensure this year's show was up to Mrs Paterson's standards, but it would not change the focus of the two nights.
''This is a key event that offers an opportunity for some of our amateur designers and that is the primary focus,'' Mr Paterson said.
''Provided that we never go away from that focus, it will continue to flourish.
''My team around me is just a group of amazing people with a very steely determination this year to make sure the event goes off as well as it has in the past.''
Discerning, well-respected judges and a strong body of 220 entries would preserve the fashion-first sensibility that had kept the amateur design awards on the national stage, entries coming from ''right throughout both islands'' as well as one from Singapore.
A few tickets remained for the Hokonui Gala Awards Evening on Saturday, July 25, with table seating limited to 700, he said.
Door sales would be available for next Friday night's show, which would feature the primary school and secondary school awards, the event typically drawing a crowd of about 600.
