Mrs Diana Dobson, of Blenheim, QSM, for services to wildlife conservation
Diana Dobson is the Aviary Manager of the Marlborough Falcon Conservation Trust, mainly focusing on the rehabilitation of sick and injured Kārearea, the only remaining endemic bird of prey in New Zealand and one of Aotearoa’s most at-risk species.
She leads the Trust’s Captive Breeding programme and has been responsible for the breeding and releasing of 68 juvenile falcons.
She educates the public through its Advocacy and Education programme. Mrs Dobson cares for injured, rescued and orphaned birds and, where possible, restores wild populations.
This recently included raising an abandoned colony of chicks of the critically endangered black-billed gull.