Mr Richard Steele, of Ōwhango, KSM for services to the rural community
Richard Steele helped establish and was inaugural President of the Ruapehu Federated Farmers Province, formed to ensure voices of the rural community from the Ruapehu region were heard, particularly on issues such as Bovine TB outbreaks. He remains as an Executive Member. He served on the Regional Animal Health Committee, working on education and eradication of TB through possum control. He helped form the Rural Support Trust to provide mental wellbeing support due to the drought-like conditions farmers were facing, and served as Chair. Mr Steele is a life member of the Friends of the Whanganui River Group.