Peter Smith of Ashburton has received the Ti Kouka award from conservation organisation Forest & Bird.
It recognises his significant contribution to nature conservation and his years of service to the organisation’s Ashburton branch.
The 83-year-old said he was honoured by the accolade, which was ‘‘totally unexpected’’.
As someone who was more comfortable working in the background of the organisation rather than in a leadership role, he said he appreciated recognition by those who had nominated him.
Peter joined Forest & Bird in the early 1990s and the Ashburton branch committee in 1995.
He said he started through the involvement of his wife, Edith.
He had a strong interest in conservation and there was an opening for a person with his skills, which he was happy to contribute, he said.
An accountant by trade, he brought his professional skills to the management of the branch’s finances, and has served as branch secretary, and treasurer for more than 30 years; the latter is a role he still holds.
Peter held a key role in the establishment of the Ashburton Community Conservation Trust which manages the Harris Scientific Reserve.
This reserve protects a precious remnant of Canterbury Plains dryland vegetation and is one of the few sites on the plains where kanuka and other original vegetation flourishes.
Branch secretary Val Clemens said Peter had been unfailingly generous with his time and expertise.
“He has been auditor for other clubs as well as Forest & Bird and has taken on difficult jobs that others shy away from, such as the responsibility for the branch’s health and safety paperwork and protocols at field days.
“His attention to detail is wonderful. Not only is he the financial manager we can’t do without, he’s there with a knapsack at the Harris Reserve,” Val said.
Planting days at the reserve have been held annually since the beginning in 2007 to supplement the original kanuka left as shelter around the perimeter of a lambing paddock.
Peter is one of the chief organisers of the planting days, and there’s plenty of work done at the reserve during the year too, where Peter does more than his fair share of watering and spraying.
Wilding conifer control in the Hakatere Conservation Area was another important project that Forest & Bird undertakes.
Every year volunteers remove thousands of seedling trees near Lake Heron and in the Spider Lakes area.
Peter keeps track of the numbers and has a decade of data that records the successful removal of thousands of wildings. His organisation of tools and chemicals is also valued by the other branch members.
