Dr George Mason, of New Plymouth, ONZM, for services to conservation, philanthropy and the community
Dr George Mason founded and is a Trustee of the George Mason Charitable Trust, which has distributed more than $630,000 of scholarships, educational funding and grants to young New Zealanders. The Trust donated $5 million for a new Environmental Research Centre at the University of Auckland. Dr Mason pledged $50,000 per annum for a three-year Massey University Wildbase study into parasite diseases in kiwi reared in captivity. He is a member of 11 professional bodies in New Zealand and internationally. He is a Charter member of the Rotary Club of New Plymouth West, having held various offices and contributed to youth programmes and international Rotary projects. Dr Mason has been involved with the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society and the Taranaki Alpine Club since the 1950s.