Anthony Whitaker, of Motueka
Anthony Whitaker, of Motueka, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to herpetology. Mr Whitaker is a recognised expert on New Zealand and Pacific amphibians and reptiles, with his research being widely published in academic journals and books. He devised new methods for finding and surveying lizards, and made significant observations of their biology and ecology. He has discovered many new species, including a rare New Zealand skink that lays eggs rather than giving birth to live young. He was at the leading edge of conservationists who recognised the devastating impact of introduced rodents on reptile populations and has been involved in numerous conservation programmes for threatened species. His work has also significantly improved the biosecurity of New Zealand through his development of a fast identification process for reptiles and snakes intercepted at New Zealand borders.