Susan Stevens, Queenstown, QSM, for services to the community
Mrs Susan Stevens joined the Gibbston Community Association in 2000 and held the position of secretary before her appointment as Chair in 2006. During her time as Chair, she facilitated the construction of the Gibbston River Trail near Queenstown, among other community development projects. She contributed hundreds of hours towards the raising of $1.4 million in funding, co-ordinating workers and experts and physically helping to establish the trail, which opened in 2011. In conjunction with the Department of Conservation and the Historic Places Trust she helped restore the Rum Currie Reserve. She organises clean-up days for the Gibbston community, oversees the Harvest Festival, and has instigated a rubbish drop-off facility, rest areas, a cricket oval and reserve. The Gibbston Community was awarded New Zealand Community of the Year 2011. Mrs Stevens is currently working to establish the Grateful Citizens Society Charitable Trust to continue asset development and heritage preservation in the Queenstown Lakes District.