Wilson Lattey's long time community involvement recognised

Wilson and Debbie Lattey.

Wilson Lattey is this year's Kāpiti Business Hall of Fame laureate.

The official citation from Business Kāpiti Horowhenua said Wilson was a deserving recipient because his "commitment to the business, quality assurance, aviation and arts communities" had been very evident and "the positive impact of your involvement has been long-lasting".

Wilson said the award "came completely out of the blue".

"I have enjoyed my long association with the Kāpiti Coast and got a lot of satisfaction from having some influence and impact on the way it has developed.

"Obviously I couldn't have done these things on my own and want to recognise all those good people that helped to make things happen."

Wilson, who was born in Wellington, moved to Levin with his family in 1951 as a teenager and attended Horowhenua College for five years before becoming a land survey cadet with local company Foster and Foster.

The citation said his early training as a land surveyor covered the Horowhenua and Kāpiti districts before he moved to Wellington to spearhead the company's new office.

It was a busy time as he "honed his skills in mass earthwork and roading design on Wellington's rugged topography".

After becoming a registered surveyor he took on a partnership with Bill Reynolds, who had taken over the Wellington office, with a satellite office in Paraparaumu.

When Reynolds retired in 1974 Wilson became a partner with consulting and surveying firm Brickell Moss Rankine and Hill.

"It was a significant expansion with offices throughout New Zealand, Australia and Southeast Asia.

"A further expansion took place with Connel Wagner, another similar consultancy, which extended both reach and capacity."

Wilson held several senior management positions during that period including Wellington regional manager and New Zealand quality assurance manager.

He had a keen interest in quality assurance and developed a standard QA system for Consulting Surveyors New Zealand and helped several practices achieve their certification.

And as an off-shoot he was a deer farm quality assessor who helped certify over 80 deer farms in the lower North Island.

By the early 1990s he started his own land development consultancy practice, Lattey Consultants, in Paraparaumu, which is now known as Landlink, based in Waikanae.

In the middle 1990s Wilson and his wife Debbie started Otaihanga Landscaping, which they still own and operate.

Wilson, who has helped design many subdivisions as well as new roads in Kāpiti and Horowhenua, was admitted as a fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors in 2002.

He has also been heavily involved with the community including, among other roles, inaugural president of the Kāpiti Aero Club, longtime member of the Rotary Club of Paraparaumu including a key promoter of its annual art show which raised many for local arts projects over 17 years, life member of Pastel Artists New Zealand, and foundation member as well as inaugural secretary of the Kāpiti Coast Chamber of Commerce.