Te Awamutu fire chief Ian Campbell received his Kings Service Medal from Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro at Government House in Wellington last week.
Ian Campbell
He was among Fire and Emergency New Zealand volunteers and staff from Wānaka, Auckland, Rongotea, Bulls, Kerikeri, Taihape and Te Puke to be presented with their royal honours.
“These eight recipients have dedicated years of their time to supporting their communities to become stronger, safer, and more resilient through their roles as volunteers for Fire and Emergency, and through all their other community contributions. It is wonderful to see their efforts recognised today,” Fire and Emergency Board chair Rebecca Keoghan said.
Campbell, a member of the Te Awamutu Volunteer Fire Brigade since 1982 and Te Awamutu Taekwon-Do Club for 27 years, received his medal for services to both organisations.
He has been chief fire officer since 2007 of Waikato’s busiest volunteer brigade – its 40 members attend more than 400 callouts a year.
Campbell led fundraising for the $54,000 for the purchase of hydraulic rescue equipment in 2009 and $41,000 for an emergency response vehicle in 2016. In 2014, he led a team to negotiate a memorandum of understanding with St John to assist with medical emergencies with a purpose-built vehicle and chaired centennial celebrations of the brigade in 2013.
He is head instructor of Te Awamutu Taekwon-Do Club and one of 13 7th Dan masters in New Zealand.
Ian Campbell at his investiture with Dame Cindy Kiro, governor general of New Zealand.
