Kevin Barry
Kevin Barry, of Christchurch, received the Insignia of an Officer of The New Zealand Order of Merit for services to boxing and the community. Mr Barry has been involved in boxing for 45 years. Since his retirement from boxing in 1986, he has coached boxing and mentored at risk youth. He trained children with disabilities to help their co-ordination, motor skills, and improve their self-confidence and well-being. He taught fitness to pupils from Belfast School twice a week under the school’s Behaviour and Learning Programme. He organised a toy collection for under-privileged children in Christchurch which to date has given out moe than 180,000 toys to various community agencies and churches.