Samara Nicholas, of Whangarei, MNZM, for services to marine conservation and education
Samara Nicholas was a founding trustee for the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, which has created programmes to educate New Zealand children and communities about marine and freshwater conservation. She is the founder of the Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) programme and is the Trust’s national EMR coordinator and programme director. The programme began in Northland and has since expanded to eight regions throughout New Zealand. Mrs Nicholas has led the development of a range of community engagement events in marine reserves. She has led the snorkelling component of the Sir Peter Blake Trust’s Young Blake Expeditions within the South Pacific. She chairs the Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve Advisory Committee.