Bob Robertson (75), of Queenstown, said he was ''thrilled'' to be a semifinalist in the senior New Zealander of the year category.
''I'm very proud to have got that far.''
The award was recognition of his 55 years with the Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade, where he was fire chief from 1986 until he stepped down about a year ago.
''I'm more on the operational side now, helping out with the bits and pieces that make the brigade tick.''
Other semifinalists include scientist Dr Neville Jopson, of Dunedin, in the innovator of the year category.
He works with farmers and industry groups to increase animal production in New Zealand and overseas.
He developed imaging technology, which measures the carcasses and meat in animals using CT and ultrasound scanning.
As Roxburgh mayor from 1970-89 she was the first female mayor in Central Otago and as Probus Club president, she started a group providing support to people recovering from operations or cancer treatments.
She has been involved with Voluntary Help (Teviot Valley) Inc and Age Concern Otago.
As a Presbyterian Church minister between 1977 and 2001, and in the years since, he has been involved in setting up several church and community initiatives, including Manna Cafe, a Sunday breakfast cafe.
As Kelvin Peninsula Community Association chairman he improved walkways and tree control on the peninsula.
Henrietta McNeill (22), of Invercargill, is a semifinalist in the young New Zealander of the year category.
She was awarded a 2014 Rotary youth leadership award and received more than $30,000 in scholarship funding to attend events including international conferences, and give presentations in New Zealand, Macau, Thailand, Australia, Fiji and Samoa and served an internship at the European Parliament in Brussels.
Semifinalists in the community of the year include Central Lakes Trust in Cromwell, which has given more than $70 million in community grants since 2000.
The Otago Electric Power Board Trust gave the Lakes trust $155 million of assets including a renewable energy company and the trust channels profits back to the community.
The trust has funded projects such as the Queenstown Trail, local halls, tennis courts, bowling greens, aquatic centres, CT scanners, educational grants and infrastructure projects.
In 2009, it provided $2.1 million in funding for computer upgrades and wireless capability for Central Otago schools.
Another community of the year semifinalist is South Alive Invercargill, a community-based organisation working to make southern Invercargill a better place to live and work.
Led by local volunteers, with support from the council, South Alive initiated projects including working with the community gardens to install a stage, basketball court and exercise area.
The winners will be announced in Auckland on February 25.
