Margaret Cook (Invercargill)

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community

Margaret Cook says that being made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit will not change her volunteering work moving forward.

"The work that I am involved in still needs volunteers involved in programmes to achieve change for people in need," she said.

Mrs Cook's strong community connections have come from more than 20 years of work through organisations such as the National Council of Women of New Zealand and Habitat for Humanity.

She served as vice president at the National Council of Women between 2000 and 2008, as well as the National Director and Chair of the Christchurch Board for Habitat for Humanity between 2009 and 2015.

As part for role at Habitat for Humanity she established the volunteer programme, complete with policies and procedures, which is seen as a "pinnacle achievement".

Since 2013 she has also served as a trustee and deputy chair of the South Invercargill Urban Rejuvenation Charitable Trust, otherwise known as South Alive, where she is currently the convener of the South Alive Housing Action Group and the lead on the Southland Community Housing Group which is responsible for progressing the Southland Community Housing Strategy.

She has also lead a variety of community events including an annual trolley derby and family fun day, the South Alive Spring Flower Show and also served as a Cub Leader for Scouts New Zealand and chaired the Girls Brigade Area Council from 2001 to 2014.

Mrs Cook said the award was very "humbling".