Clive Paton, Martinborough, ONZM, for services to viticulture and conservation
Mr Clive Paton, who has owned the award-winning Ata Rangi vineyard since 1980, has contributed strongly to conservation efforts and sustainable wine production in the Greater Wellington Region. Ata Rangi is a leader in sustainable wine production and is in transition to full organic status. He produced a pinot noir called 'Crimson' with all profits donated to the charitable trust Project Crimson for planting rata and pohutukawa. He also owns the Bush Block, a 130-hectare farm adjoining the Haurangi/Aorangi Forest Park. This land produces native plants for re-vegetation purposes in the Wairarapa. He formed a conservation group to protect the Waihora stream, which contains threatened native fish. Mr Paton helped the Department of Conservation, the Greater Wellington Regional Council, and Forest and Bird to establish the Aorangi Restoration Trust for re-introducing threatened species into the Aorangi Mountains and adjoining forest. He has received numerous awards including the Regional Farm Forester of the Year Award in 2011, and the Department of Conservation Wellington Region Conservation Award in the business category in 2007.