John Towns, QSM, Nelson.
For services to the community. Mr John Towns was one of the original founders of Special Olympics Nelson in 1984. Since 1984, the number of athletes involved in Special Olympics Nelson has grown to over 200. He has been the Chair of the local committee of Special Olympics Nelson, and has been its major fund raiser, helping to raise more than $1 million. He is currently the Patron of Special Olympics Nelson. He served on the board of Special Olympics New Zealand from 1993 to 2008, including as its Deputy Chair. Mr Towns has been a member of the board of the Fifeshire Foundation, helping to raise funds for the relief of hardship and/or domestic crisis for people in need in the Nelson and Tasman region. He was the President of the Nelson College Old Boys’ Association and Chair of the Nelson College Trust Foundation from 2007 to 2010. Mr Towns is the Patron of the Nelson Multiple Sclerosis Society, was a member of the Nelson Arts Council, and is a Justice of the Peace.