Forest & Bird has announced the recipients of the organisation's annual honours at their AGM today. These include:

• Old Blue Award | Dr Kelvin Lloyd (Ōtepoti, Dunedin)
• Old Blue Award | Mo Turnbull (Hāwea, Central Otago)
• Old Blue Award | Jane and Jim Young (South Otago)
• Te Kaiārahi Rangatahi o te Taiao Youth Award | Jessica Lamb (Ōtautahi, Christchurch)
• Branch Award | Upper Coromandel (Waikato)
• Tī Kōuka Awards
  • David Cornick (Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai, Lower Hutt)
  • John Groombridge (Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai, Lower Hutt)
  • Christine Major (North Shore, Tāmaki Makaurau)
  • Paul Pyper (North Shore, Tāmaki Makaurau)
  • Peter Smith (Hakatere, Ashburton)
  • Eric van Essen (Waitākere, Tāmaki Makaurau)

Old Blue Award | Dr Kelvin Lloyd (Ōtepoti, Dunedin) 
For his passion and expertise as an ecologist, botanist and science educator. Kelvin has been a vital expert witness for Forest & Bird and other conservation groups in the Environment Court and is a former Dunedin branch chair. Kelvin’s professional work has ensured better conservation outcomes, and he has also volunteered for many conservation causes.

Old Blue Award | Mo Turnbull (Hāwea, Central Otago) 
For his outstanding contribution to Forest & Bird’s Central Otago Lakes Branch and to conservation in the region. Over the last 12 years Mo has become a key branch member and has fostered several projects and fundraising. He has spearheaded and expanded the Makarora predator control programme since 2012 and was an influential member of the Southern Lakes Sanctuary Trust.

Old Blue Award | Jane and Jim Young (South Otago) 
For their outstanding service to Forest & Bird and to conservation in their region. Jane and Jim have been key members of the South Otago branch for more than a decade and a half as committee members, educators and advocates, as well as working on branch projects and running the main branch nursery.

Te Kaiārahi Rangatahi o te Taiao Youth Award | Jessica Lamb (Ōtautahi, Christchurch) 
For her dedication and leadership in Forest & Bird Youth. Jessica co-founded the Rotorua Youth Hub in 2019, became a Youth Leader and Coordinator of the Ōtautahi Christchurch Hub in 2022 and national Youth Director in 2024. She organised several national youth events, formed partnerships with other youth-oriented environmental groups, and inspired and mentored other young conservationists. She has been involved in many hands-on conservation and sustainability projects.

Branch Award | Upper Coromandel (Waikato) 
For its outstanding work in protecting, enhancing and advocating for nature. Upper Coromandel runs several environmental restoration projects and collaborates with iwi on landscape scale projects. The branch works with other local environmental groups, and lobbies councils and politicians to promote conservation and oppose inappropriate developments. It advocates for nature through meetings, local media and protests and is a powerful voice for nature.

Tī Kōuka Awards

David Cornick (Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai, Lower Hutt) 
For his exceptional service to the Lower Hutt branch and to conservation in the region. David is the longest service member of the branch committee, since being elected in 1991. He has been a regular volunteer at Forest & Bird and other conservation projects across the region, including the Wellington and Wainuiomata native plant nurseries, Mātiu Somes and Mana islands and Pāuatahanui Wildlife Reserve.

John Groombridge (Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai, Lower Hutt) 
For his exceptional service to the Lower Hutt branch and to conservation in the region for almost 30 years. He has served as branch treasurer for 25 years and has been very active as a volunteer in the branch’s projects. He first joined a planting trip to Mātiu Somes Island in 1996 and coordinates working bees to the branch’s nursery there, as well as regularly volunteering on other branch projects.

Christine Major (North Shore, Tāmaki Makaurau) 
For her exceptional service to Forest & Bird and North Shore branch’s Tuff Crater restoration project. Christine has led the predator control programme at the Auckland project since 2010. The restoration project requires a sustained predator control effort and Christine has been central to its success. She created and trained a team of volunteers, carries out regular monitoring and reporting, and ensures the supply of equipment and baits.

Paul Pyper (North Shore, Tāmaki Makaurau) 
For his exceptional service to Forest & Bird and North Shore’s Tuff Crater restoration project. Paul has been leading the Thursday working bees at the Auckland project since 2016, a total of at least 280 events. This has involved training new volunteers, and liaising with the council, community and neighbouring landowners. He has maintained and organised materials and equipment and assisted with planting organisation and events.

Peter Smith (Hakatere, Ashburton) 
For his exceptional service to Forest and Bird’s Ashburton Branch and to conservation in the local area. Peter has been an able treasurer for almost 30 years and has supported the committee and branch in their conservation projects, particularly wilding conifer control and health and safety. He also played a key role in the establishment of the Ashburton Community Conservation Trust, which manages the Harris Scientific Reserve.

Eric van Essen (Waitākere, Tāmaki Makarau) 
For his exceptional service to the Waitākere branch and to conservation in his region for more than three decades. Eric has volunteered at Forest & Bird’s Colin Kerr-Taylor Memorial Reserve in Waimauku, where he is still honorary ranger and has developed a predator control halo project with neighbouring landowners. He has also worked at the Matuku Reserve and used his photography skills to record the natural treasures of the region.

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