A Samoan has been recognised for his services in boxing in this year's New Zealand Queen's Birthday Honours.
Nearly 200 people are named in this year's list and Lofipo Alipapa Afakasi has become a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Lofipo Alipapa Afakasi, who represented both New Zealand and Western Samoa at several international boxing tournaments, says he is very proud and humbled.
"It is quite a big honour and I thank the queen for remembering me after all these years in my boxing career, representing New Zealand and also Samoa. I am very happy, it is an honour because it is very hard to get a thing like this."
Lofipo Alipapa Afakasi says one of the highlights in his over 30-year long career was to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games in 1970 as the first Samoan .
The country's highest honour has been awarded to a judge, Sir Kenneth Keith.
