In a ceremony after the full council meeting, Taylor Reed (79) was acknowledged by Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden as "a very special man who has contributed a great [deal] to our community, and to the Arrowtown community in particular".
Born in Alexandra, Mr Reed spent all his life in the Wakatipu and worked in variety of jobs, from projectionist to camp-ground manager for 18 years, Ms van Uden said.
"But it is his community service that we are here to acknowledge him for today. The list is long: Arrowtown Volunteer Fire Brigade for 15 years, Lakes District Museum board member for 26 years, Arrowtown Village committee for 18 years, Arrowtown Lions Club, Arrowtown Bowling Club for 30 years, Arrow Curling Club for 12 years [and the] Wakatipu Diabetes Society.
"Not only has Taylor played an active role in community life through his service to all of these clubs and groups, but he has had a long history of involvement in local government in the district as well.
"He served two terms on the Arrowtown Borough Council as a 23-year-old in 1956 and then became a Queenstown Lakes district councillor in 1989 and served three terms."
The mayor said Mr Reed had an active involvement in all things planning, serving on the district council planning committee, then various hearings panels after the advent of the Resource Management Act.
Mr Reed's long tenure on the Arrowtown Planning Advisory Group meant he had contributed to protecting and enhancing what was so special about Arrowtown, she said.
"Taylor has given 32 years' service to planning in the district, something which I personally admire him for enormously.
"I could go on about the long list of contributions this very special man has made to our community, but I will finish by simply saying thank you, Taylor, on behalf of us all for a life of unselfish and unstinting service to this community. It is truly appreciated."
Mr Reed said he had cut back on his duties and was now only the treasurer and chairman of the finance committee for the Lakes District Museum, the secretary of the Arrowtown Returned and Services' Association and the president of Probus.
"Anything I had done I have done willingly because I enjoyed it."
