Mr McTaggart (64) was, at the weekend, awarded life membership of the Arrowtown Autumn Festival.
Festival co-ordinator Julie Hughes says Mr McTaggart is the festival's "one and only" life member.
"And no-one is more deserving of that.
"He's been involved in every festival for the last 25 years; he's put in so many hours at so many events; I'm really rapt he's been honoured like this," she said.
The award was a real pick-me-up for Mr McTaggart, whose wife, Jude, is in Frankton Hospital battling a serious illness. The couple have been married for 45 years.
Mr McTaggart, who has been singing and entertaining since he was 12 years old, says he didn't realise the award was coming his way but is proud of his length of service to the festival.
"I think I've been to every show at every festival," he said, admitting that was probably a unique achievement.
Mr McTaggart got involved in the first festival with Ross Martin, providing a sound system and performing, often with the Shotover Country Music Club, of which he is president.
He has continued in that role and recalls, with a wry grin, that the hours of his involvement have increased significantly over the years.
He estimates he puts in between 40 and 60 hours during the week-long festival; not that he minds.
"It's not just me either. I get a lot of help from Gordon Hamilton, Russell Mason and Vance Gore - we're like the [characters in] Last of the Summer Wine," he said, laughing.
Mr McTaggart believes the continued success of the festival is due to the great support it gets from the Arrowtown community and the fact the format has remained largely unchanged.
"I'm sure that's why it's been so successful. A lot of people keep coming back every year," he said.
