Hard work and family values bring rewards

Strong family values and hard work are the inspiration behind Brian Corban's dedicated service to a range of New Zealand companies and community organisations.

Mr Corban, who has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year honours, credits his late grandfather Assid Abraham Corban for influencing him over the years.

Assid Corban came to New Zealand from Lebanon in 1892 and settled in Henderson, West Auckland, in 1902 when he started Corban's Wines.

He had 10 children, and Mr Corban said it was still a large, extended but close-knit family.

He is married to Lindsay, and they have three children, Benjamin, 35, Sarah, 32, and Sam, 30, and three grandchildren, Bruno, 7, Ruby, 5, and Noah, 3.

"Grandad always said we should be grateful to live in a beautiful, peaceful country in a democratic society," Mr Corban said.

"Because we came from a different culture and a troubled part of the world there's always been a lot of gratitude within our family to the community that took my grandparents in."

It is not his first award. In 1995 he was made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order, and received a 1990 Commemorative Medal for his service as chairman of TVNZ.

Mr Corban is chairman of Genesis Power, West Auckland Trust Services and Radio New Zealand, deputy chairman of KiwiRail and has served as chairman and director of many companies.

-NZPA