Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt has been made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2019 New Year Honours. (Video first published in December 2018).

Mayor Tim can now be called Sir Tim.

Invercargill's long-time mayor Tim Shadbolt has been made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to local government and the community.

The 71-year-old with the trademark grin says he is exhilarated and filled with joy by the 2019 New Year honour.

John Hawkins/Stuff Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt, in the city's Queens Park, has been made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2019 New Year Honours.

The knighthood is not just for him, it's also for the people of Invercargill, a city where he first became mayor in 1993.

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"When you look at what gritty, honest, hard-working people we are, I think we deserve a bit of recognition."

As a young man Shadbolt was anti-establishment and a charismatic student radical whose civil disobedience resulted in many brushes with the law.

Now the longest serving mayor in New Zealand, he has become more conservative over the years but freely admits to a colourful past.

"I must admit I have had a rather colourful past but that gives me a bit of joy in this situation as well, because it means ultimately we are all equal," he says.

A reflective Shadbolt, whose long-time partner is Asha Dutt, pays tribute to his parents, both of whom have passed away.

His father was killed when his plane crashed into a mountain during a training exercise in 1952, while preparing to serve in the Korean War.

His mother, "a wonderful woman", died in Invercargill in 2009, aged 93.

"I had a point to prove, I suppose, that I could bring honour to their names.

"And I have a feeling it will add to the occasion for the wider Shadbolt family," he says of his knighthood.

"There's 10,000 living in New Zealand, I hope they feel the acknowledgement as well."

He is unsure how many people will actually call him sir.

"On official occasions I wouldn't mind being referred to as Your Worship Sir Timothy Richard Shadbolt, JP, but I have a feeling people will just call me Mayor Tim."

His political career began with two terms as Mayor of Waitemata City before heading south and being elected mayor of Invercargill from 1993-95.

After a term on the outer he was re-elected in 1998 and is now serving his eighth term in office.

He plans to stand again at next year's October local body elections and thinks the knighthood will probably help his chances for re-election.

"But it's not the only factor, after wining eight elections there's other issues involved as well."

The honours list citation says Shadbolt has been an inspirational leader for both Invercargill and the southern region.

Among his achievements are his campaigning for the zero fees scheme at the Southern Institute of Technology, which encouraged youth to remain in the region or migrate south to study.

This led to an increase in the population and stimulated economic growth in Southland.

Two major facilities, the Stadium Southland and cycling velodrome were built during his mayoralty, and the Splash Palace Aquatic Centre, Invercargill Airport terminal and Civic Theatre have all been refurbished during his time in office.

"He has been a leading advocate for attracting overseas students, sister cities, Māori land rights, supporting the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter, the retention of Dunedin Hospital's neurological unit and the recovery of Auckland Island pigs for medical research," the citation says.

Shadbolt, who has four sons, has also helped raise funds and performed in several feature films and reality television programmes, and along with regular newspaper columns and other published works, has made a significant contribution to raising Invercargill's profile and serving its citizens.

Shadbolt puts his success as a politician largely down to his communication skills.

He has tried to bring humour to politics.

"I think to a degree I have succeeded, it doesn't always work, sometimes it can backfire, but generally speaking, entertainment is an important part of life."

He singles out his promotion of the Southern Institute of Technology [SIT] for special mention.

The SIT zero fees scheme, organised by Penny Simmonds, turned the city around, he says.

"I have just been the promoter for it."