Monday, 19 March 2018 06:13
QSM recognition for DU's first president Ian Pirani
Ian’s reward: Andy Garrick CEO of Eastern Fish &Game (left) and DU Life Member Ian Pirani; has also been recognised for his long involvement with Eastern F&G. The inscription says: In recognition of your long term dedication and commitment to the conservation and management of New Zealand’s water fowl and their wetland habitats.
Liz Brook
Ian Pirani received a Queens Service Medal (QSM) in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours for services to conservation.
In 1974 Ian was a co-founder of Ducks Unlimited and was the first president of DUNZ through to 1980. During this time he and his wife Dawn initiated a Pateke breeding programme and nesting boxes for Grey Teal throughout New Zealand.
A former goat farmer who has given voluntary service to wetland preservation and other farm environment initiatives, Ian has contributed to conservation and the environment.
Early in his farming career Ian suggested to his employer to fence rather than drain a wetland. Later he and his wife established the largest water fowl collection in Australasia and were the first people to privately breed whio in captivity. He joined the Wellington Acclimatisation Society as a councillor in 1964, serving until 1972 and was a Councillor on the National Acclimatisation for three years.
He is a strong advocate for the profitable live harvest of feral goats from indigenous forests for environmental reasons and for use as a meat export. Ian has served on a variety of environmental and farming boards including the Meat and Wool Board as a member of the Goat Advisory Group, on the Eastern Fish and Game Board, Bay of Plenty Goat Farmers Association, the Department of Conservation East Coast Board, and the National Trust of Balance Farm Environment Board.
Ian was a senior assessor and on the management committee for the BoP Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
Ian has not been in the best of health lately, and DUNZ members wish him well.