Receiving the Queen's Service Medal in the New Year Honours got New Plymouth's Rev Albert (Albie) Martin thinking. "I asked myself 'am I worthy of this?'," Mr Martin said.

He received the honour for his service to Maori – he is the senior priest for the Taranaki Maori Anglican Parish, chairman of the region's Maori wardens' association and has served on the national executive and is Maori adviser to the central and New Plymouth police districts.

Being put forward for the award stirred feelings of deja vu for Mr Martin; in the eartly 80s he was asked if he would accept a nomination but he declined.

"I said it is not me as an individual that should be recognised, it is the collective of all of the people that put me there."
Asked again this year, Mr Martin said yes.

"Those who had asked back then have all died... I accept it (now) on behalf of those people from the yesteryear. I didn't expect any gratitude over the years, I just get on and do the job," he said.

Mr Martin has been involved in the Taranaki community for more than 36 years. He is minister for the Okato Co-operating Parish, he serves as the padre to the New Zealand Army Taranaki Division and as a chaplain at local rest homes.

Mr Martin also does blessings following workplace accidents, works in the Steps Programme for youth with alcohol and drug problems, and was an alcohol field officer with the Taranaki Base Hospital.

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