Amid many accolades, Trevor Maxwell has a carved a niche for himself in Rotorua.

Trevor has registered 42 years as a Rotorua Lakes councillor – the second longest term of on any local authority in New Zealand.

But time is catching up with the man who is now a national treasure, as he is also the country's cultural ambassador.

Though his polling slid a little in 2016, then almost fell out of the chute two weeks ago when voted in as 10^th councillor (6230 votes) of 10 required, just below Dave Donaldson (6317, ninth), who was re-appointed deputy mayor.

If there was ever any disappointment, Trevor's not showing it.

But he was intrigued to learn that he is presently New Zealand's longest serving councillor, according to Rotorua Now research.

Next year will be his 43^th consecutive year in office, having first served as a Rotorua City councillor in 1977.

In that year, Trevor was voted in alongside Labour Party stalwarts Johnny Lepper, later deputy mayor, and Rosemary Michie.

But he has a wee distance to head record holder Doug Truman, of the Grey District Council.

By 2016, Doug could count on 48 years continuous service in a territorial authority. He was Grey's deputy mayor then. But the man who was first elected to the Grey district in 1968 lost his seat, effectively handing the title to Trevor Maxwell.

Across the local body spectrum, Trevor has fashioned an enviable record.

Between times, he was elected to Environment Bay of Plenty (now Bay of Plenty Regional Council), serving with Cliff Lee, also a contemporary Rotorua district (now Lakes) councillor.

In 1995, Trevor was elected to the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust, for which he served until an exodus of the good and great in 2016. Then, he followed chairman Grahame Hall (retired) and faithful retainers Paul East (a former Cabinet Minister) and Lyall Thurston as Rotorua signalled changes, almost radical by conservative Rotorua standards.

Trevor has operated seamlessly in all arenas, with positions of senior responsibility. He proved an able chairman when filling in at council level.

His connections are impressive: his brother-in-law was the late Sir Howard Morrison. Another Rotorua totara, Sir Peter Tapsell, eventually Speaker of the House, encouraged the young Trevor to enter politics in 1977 – a decision he did not regret.

But, Trevor says, he has never forgot his DNA – or in this case, his MBA, a Maori Boy from Awahou.

Oddly, in a news agency round-up of long serving councillors in 2016, Trevor's name was overlooked.

Yet, even then he was second server behind Doug Truman mentioned earlier in this article.

In total, of his wider democratic representation, Trevor has effectively served Rotorua over an aggregate of 68 years as he flitted from one body to another for meetings and engagements. The years equate to just over 22 three-year terms.

Loyalty is Trevor's by-word.

He has supported every mayor/chairman under whom he has served. Further, for one who moves easily in both worlds, this rangitira of Awahou has been an exceptional handmaiden who is revered in the community.

Several times, he has been appointed deputy mayor under the watches of Grahame Hall and Kevin Winters.

Longest serving councillors as of 2016:

Wellington City Council – Helene Ritchie (30 years)
Kapiti Coast District Council – Diane Ammundsen (30 years)
Porirua City Council – John Burke (30 years)
Hutt City Council – Margaret Cousins (30 years)
Hastings District Council – Lawrence Yule, Cynthia Bowers (21 years)
Greater Wellington Regional Council – Chris Laidlaw, Sandra Greig (18 years)
Napier City Council – Mark Herbert (18 years)
Hawke's Bay Regional Council – Christine Scott (15 years)
Upper Hutt City Council – John Gwilliam (12 years)