Robert Pennington, of Blenheim
Robert Pennington, of Blenheim, received the Queen's Service Medal for services to the community. Mr Penington had more than 40 years involvement in local government before retiring as general manager of the Marlborough District Council in 2000. In 1995 he was the first recipient of the Local Government Distinguished Management Award. He was also a member of volunteer fire brigades, served with civil defence organisations for 17 years, was honorary secretary of the Whites Bay Domain Board, and has been a Justice of the Peace since 1980. Since retiring, he has assisted with the development of the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology Training Wing at the RNZAF’s Woodbourne Base, the Marlborough Wine Centre of Excellence and the Marlborough Aviation Heritage Centre. From 2004 to 2009 Mr Penington was Project Director for the Kurahaupo Ki Te Waipounamu Trust, a coalition formed by three South Island iwi to create momentum in Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiations.