Dr Gerry McSweeney, of Haast, CNZM, for services to conservation
Dr Gerry McSweeney was a founding member of the Forest Heritage Fund Committee, now the Nature Heritage Fund. He helped to protect more than 349,000 hectares of land containing indigenous biodiversity.
He advised successive Ministers and Director-Generals as a member of the New Zealand Conservation Authority. His knowledge contributed to significant additions of land to the Paparoa and Kahurangi National Parks. He was President of Forest and Bird and is one of the Society’s conservation ambassadors.
He was a member of the South Westland Environment and Community Advisory Group.
Dr McSweeney, together with his wife, has contributed to Canterbury and West Coast eco-tourism through his family’s development and operation of wilderness lodges at Lake Moeraki and Arthur’s Pass, where he has undertaken protection of threatened local species and pest control.