Sergeant Les Clarke, of Taihape, KSM for services to the New Zealand Police and the community
Sergeant Les Clarke has served with the New Zealand Police in Auckland and Taihape. He is a Taihape Community Board member and was elected to the Rangitikei District Council for a term. Identifying issues in Taihape with youth crime and troublemaking, he initiated a scheme with the local school for students to fundraise for trips through performing jobs within the community. The initial scheme funded a trip to Australia, and youth groups subsequently travelled to the Mount Everest basecamp. He established the Taihape Community Development Trust and remains a member. Sergeant Clarke has coached numerous youth sports teams.