Queen Elizabeth II National Trust Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE: 14th February 2001

GARLAND & WALLS ELECTED AS

QUEEN ELIZABETH II NATIONAL TRUST DIRECTORS

The QEII National Trust is pleased to announce the re-election of Mr Bill Garland and Mr Geoff Walls as the member-elected National Trust Directors.

The QEII National Trust is the leading organisation involved in landscape protection on private land in New Zealand. The National Trust has, to date, registered over 1430 legal agreements (covenants) protecting over 53,000 hectares of New Zealand's natural landscape in perpetuity. The Trust is chaired by Sir Paul Reeves.

Mr Garland & Mr Walls were both elected by Queen Elizabeth II National Trust members in the 1998 election. Having just served three years as National Trust Directors, the results of the 2001 ballot saw Messrs Garland and Walls re-elected to the board to represent the membership for the next three years.

Bill Garland, of Cambridge, farms a 420 hectare sheep and beef property on the slopes of Maungatautari mountain, with his wife Sue. They have protected the major bush remnants on their property, with 13 hectares under an Open Space Covenant. Bill's extensive experience in issues of land management includes: 3 years as National Meat & Wool chairman of Federated Farmers; 3 years as director of the Animal Health Board; and 6 years Waikato Conservation Board. Bill is also Chairman of the Farm Environment Award Trust and a member of the Advisory Committee on Biodiversity for Landcare research.

Geoff Walls, of Christchurch, is a freelance ecologist with over thirty years' experience of working throughout rural and remote New Zealand. Geoff has as a deep knowledge of New Zealand's natural history, experience in the operations of the QEII National Trust and land management agencies. Geoff also brings the experience of managing an Open Space Covenant on D'Urville Island. Geoff feels honoured to have been re-elected as a National Trust Director.

Sir Paul Reeves comments, "It is great that both Bill and Geoff have ben re-elected and that their contribution over the past three years has been recognised by the Trust's membership".

ENDS

© Scoop Media