Sir Jerry pops in to personally deliver medals

HUMBLED: Dargaville conservationist Barry Searle received his QSM from the Governor-General in front of family and friends.

Two Northland conservationists had a special visitor to their homes this week - the Governor-General, Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae, turned up to present Wade Doak and Barry Searle with their Queen's Service Medals.

Mr Searle can almost recount the number of toheroa he's helped transplant from one part of Ripiro Beach to another, roughly 15,000. Now there are millions of them on the beach.

The Dargaville man's effort to repopulate the protected shellfish saw Sir Jerry visit him on Thursday to present him with his QSM.

Sir Jerry carried out the ceremony at a dignified, small and pleasantly informal investiture at the home of Mr Searle and his wife Robyn, in front of about 20 family and friends. Ill health prevented Mr Searle making it to Government House when his gong for services to marine conservation was announced in the 2013 New Year's Honours list so the Queen's representative in New Zealand made a point of personally delivering it.

The citation observed Mr Searle's pioneering work, cultivating toheroa in a range of locations to diversify the number of places they could grow, being Te Kopuru Fire Service station manager for many years, a founder of Northland Motor Caravan Association, a past-president of Northern Wairoa Civilian Maimed Association and a life member of Dargaville Museum.

Ironically, before he moved on to saving toheroa, he commercially harvested them for a local canning factory. That factory's closure alerted Mr Searle to how degraded the once plentiful resource had become.

Mr Searle and his wife Robyn were honoured at the Kaipara District's 2009 Citizens' Awards. A Pakeha, Mr Searle has also been honoured by Te Uri o Hau hapu for his kaitiaki/guardianship of Ripiro Beach.

He described Thursday's very personal ceremony as "humbling".

Earlier in the day Sir Jerry had been at the Ngunguru home of pioneer scuba diver, marine conservationist, film-maker, photographer, author and educationalist Mr Doak and his wife Jan to present Mr Doak with the QSM he was awarded in 2012.

"This small and discreet ceremony in no way diminishes the importance of this investiture," Sir Jerry said.

"It is appropriate that your contribution to New Zealand, its people and therefore the Crown is recognised. This is a reflection on the work of Jan, too. It's my privilege to be here to preside at this very important occasion."

The citation said Mr Doak was one of the first New Zealanders to advocate for the protection of the marine environment in the 1960s and is widely recognised nationally and internationally for his work.

He worked tirelessly to have the Poor Knights Islands established as a marine reserve, and was an advisor on the establishment of the first eco-dive tourism operation on the Tutukaka Coast.

He also has an ability to engage in effective dialogue with both allies and opponents.

Mr Doak's underwater photography is renowned around the world.