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NZIF Awards 2008
The New Zealand Institute of Forestry Inc (NZIF) announced the following awards at its AGM in Palmerston North this
week.
Balneaves Travel Award - Dr. Stephen Pawson, Post Doctoral Scientist (Entomology) at Scion in Christchurch. This award
is to enable overseas travel for a member involved in sound and practical plantation forest research that will benefit
the New Zealand forestry sector. Dr Pawson will use the award to help with travel costs to attend the International
Congress of Entomology in South Africa, and the IUFRO Conference on Biodiversity in Forested Landscapes in Canada. Dr
Pawson will also visit two European entomological collections to inspect insects of quarantine significance to New
Zealand.
Undergraduate Student Award - Craig Brown and Amanda Farrell, both currently studying for the Bachelor of Forestry
Science degrees at the School of Forestry, University of Canterbury. NZIF acknowledges the support of FITEC by matching
the Institute’s funds, which means that the top two students could be recognised.
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NZIF Forester of the Year for 2008 Announced
The New Zealand Institute of Forestry Inc (NZIF) 2008 Forester of the Year is Christopher (Kit) Richards. Kit is
Environmental Manager with PF Olsen Limited in Rotorua.
Kit’s selection as the Forester of the Year recognises his leadership and excellence in forestry, and his commitment and
contribution to the profession. Kit has made significant contributions to the sustainable management of indigenous
forests, development of the Environmental Code of Practice, leading edge work with environmental management systems, and
national initiatives on FSC in general. His good publication record underpins his qualities as a suitable recipient of
the NZIF Forester of the Year Award.
The award is in the form of a carving, to be held by the recipient for a year, which contrasts the mighty native forests
of old with the more uniform exotic forests of the present. Organisations such as NZIF hold the key to the future of our
coexistence with our native and exotic forest Taonga.
In announcing the award, NZIF President Dr Andrew McEwen congratulated Kit and thanked him for his contribution to
forestry in New Zealand over a long and distinguished career. Dr McEwen also highlighted Kit’s contribution to the NZIF.
“Kit’s involvement with the NZIF dates back to his student days at the University of Canterbury, and he has made
significant contributions to NZIF submissions in recent years. This award is richly deserved.”
The award was presented to Kit Richards at the NZIF Conference Dinner in Palmerston North on Saturday 17 May.
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NZIF Announces Kirk Horn Award for 2008
The New Zealand Institute of Forestry Inc (NZIF) announced at its conference dinner in Palmerston North this week that
the Kirk Horn Award will be presented posthumously to Leith Knowles.
In announcing the honour at the Institute’s conference dinner, NZIF President Dr Andrew McEwen noted that The Kirk Horn
Flask is the most historically valuable award in all New Zealand science. The silver mounted flask was presented to
Thomas Kirk, one of NZ’s foremost botanical explorer/scientists, by Captain Inches Campbell-Walker, NZ’s first
Conservator of Forests, in 1877. It is awarded every second year in recognition of outstanding contributions to
forestry.
“The selection committee recommended that the award be presented to Leith Knowles, who died in November 2007, because of
his commitment to and enthusiasm for forestry, his success as a mover and shaker in the industry, his engagement with
international researchers , his promotion of Douglas Fir and the fact that Leith was a well known personality who
appealed to the farming sector as well as to foresters,” said Dr McEwen.
Leith, a scientist at Scion in Rotorua, passed away earlier this year following a period of illness.
The award, which includes a medal, was presented to Leith’s widow Barbara, also well-known for her work in forestry, at
the conference dinner. It was presented by Mrs Elizabeth Orr, daughter of Alex Entrican who was Director of Forestry
from 1939 until December 1961
ENDS