Eric van Essen, Tī Kōuka Award recipient 2025. Image supplied
Forest & Bird has honoured six long-serving members with the Tī Kōuka award for their exceptional service over a long period to the organisation and to conservation in their regions.
New Zealand’s largest independent conservation organisation has thousands of dedicated volunteers throughout Aotearoa and is celebrating these six for their passion and hard work over many years.
The recipients say they are honoured to be recognised but add they would not have achieved anything without the teams of dedicated Forest & Bird volunteers they work with.
David Cornick
David Cornick is the longest serving member of the Lower Hutt branch committee, joining it in 1991. He has been involved in some of the most significant restorations in the region, including Mātiu Somes and Mana islands, and Pāuatahanui Wildlife Reserve. He has also been a member of teams reintroducing rare native birds into these areas.
“David is a knowledgeable and passionate conservationist, a handy photographer, and a humble, hardworking contributor to so many of Forest & Bird’s projects,” says Andy Mitchell, Lower Hutt branch chair.
Citation | For his exceptional service to the Lower Hutt branch and to conservation in the region. David is the longest service member of the branch committee, since being elected in 1991. He has been a regular volunteer at Forest & Bird and other conservation projects across the region, including the Wellington and Wainuiomata native plant nurseries, Mātiu Somes and Mana islands and Pāuatahanui Wildlife Reserve.
John Groombridge
Another long-serving Lower Hutt member John Groombridge has been branch treasurer for a quarter of a century. John is also a long-time volunteer and organiser of restoration work on Mātiu Somes Island and a regular volunteer and organiser for other branch projects.
“John has been a solid contributor to the branch for almost 30 years, and our committee recognises his long service and the tremendous amount of mahi he has undertaken,” Andy Mitchell says.
Citation | For his exceptional service to the Lower Hutt branch and to conservation in the region for almost 30 years. He has served as branch treasurer for 25 years and has been very active as a volunteer in the branch’s projects. He first joined a planting trip to Mātiu Somes Island in 1996 and coordinates working bees to the branch’s nursery there, as well as regularly volunteering on other branch projects.
Christine Major
Christine Major has been running the North Shore branch-led Tuff Crater restoration’s predator control programme since 2010. Christine has been central to the success of the Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland project’s predator control. She has been responsible for recruiting and training the baiting and trapping teams and liaising with the council, among many responsibilities.
“Tuff Crater requires a sustained coordinated predator control effort and Christine has been the main reason it has been a success,” Tuff Crater project lead Richard Hursthouse says.
Citation | For her exceptional service to Forest & Bird and North Shore branch’s Tuff Crater restoration project. Christine has led the predator control programme at the Auckland project since 2010. The restoration project requires a sustained predator control effort and Christine has been central to its success. She created and trained a team of volunteers, carries out regular monitoring and reporting, and ensures the supply of equipment and baits.
Paul Pyper
Another Tuff Crater volunteer, Paul Pyper, has been leading Thursday working bees at the project since 2016, a total of at least 280 events. Among his responsibilities, he liaises with and trains new volunteers, and works with adjoining landowners over access to control pest plants on their land.
The North Shore branch has spent more than $300,000 on restoration efforts at the project and planted more than 28,000 native plants.
“Since Paul has been involved, we have planted 17,000 plants, much of which Paul has been part of,” Richard Hursthouse says.
Citation | For his exceptional service to Forest & Bird and North Shore’s Tuff Crater restoration project. Paul has been leading the Thursday working bees at the Auckland project since 2016, a total of at least 280 events. This has involved training new volunteers, and liaising with the council, community and neighbouring landowners. He has maintained and organised materials and equipment and assisted with planting organisation and events.
Peter Smith
Peter Smith has been the Ashburton branch treasurer since 1996 and has also been a major contributor to other branch and community activities and projects. He played a key role in the establishment of the Ashburton Community Conservation Trust in 2007, which manages the Harris Scientific Reserve. He is still closely involved in management of the reserve, a significant Canterbury plains dryland vegetation site, and he is a strong advocate for conservation in the local media.
Ashburton committee member Mary Ralston says the branch would probably not have been able to function without Peter’s expertise and support, and that of his wife Edith, the branch chair for three decades.
Citation | For his exceptional service to Forest and Bird’s Ashburton Branch and to conservation in the local area. Peter has been an able treasurer for almost 30 years and has supported the committee and branch in their conservation projects, particularly wilding conifer control and health and safety. He also played a key role in the establishment of the Ashburton Community Conservation Trust, which manages the Harris Scientific Reserve.
Erik van Essen
Eric van Essen of the Waitākere branch has been involved in the care of the Colin Kerr-Taylor Memorial Reserve in Waimauku since the early 1990s, where he is honorary ranger. He has created a halo project around the reserve to expand predator control with adjoining landowners. He has also been a regular volunteer at the branch’s Matuku Reserve.
“Eric is the ultimate volunteer, willing and able but humble,” says founding chair of the Waitakere branch, John Staniland.
Citation | For his exceptional service to the Waitākere branch and to conservation in his region for more than three decades. Eric has volunteered at Forest & Bird’s Colin Kerr-Taylor Memorial Reserve in Waimauku, where he is still honorary ranger and has developed a predator control halo project with neighbouring landowners. He has also worked at the Matuku Reserve and used his photography skills to record the natural treasures of the region.