Queen's Birthday Honours: Devoted to conservation

Robert Fenwick. Photo / Supplied

Sir Robert Fenwick

Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to conservation and business

Saving the kiwi, forging into the Antarctic, leading St John and the Fred Hollows Foundation and being an eco-warrior means that next time you meet the delightful Rob Fenwick, he has 'Sir' before his name.

• Queen's Birthday Honours list 2016

The Auckland businessman and environmentalist has been knighted for services to conservation and business, acknowledged for making significant contributions to sustainable development, wildlife protection, waste minimisation, environmental science, Antarctica and iwi during 30 years.

A descendant of the Mappin family whose property is now Auckland's Government House, Fenwick had treatment for cancer recently but is now busier than ever.

He leads Predator Free New Zealand, chairs the trust to save the kiwi and is a champion for conservation volunteers.

As chairman of Antarctica New Zealand, he oversaw the Antarctica's largest wind farm development and the $30 million ANDRILL climate science project.

In 2010 he initiated the New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute to conduct environmental science on the ice. He chairs the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge and has co-founded businesses including Living Earth, the country's first and largest organic waste processing company.