Pride of NZ: Plant expert with growing reputation

Environment category: Colin Ogle is Wanganui's go-to man on all things botanical and has dedicated years to the area's parks and bush.

Mr Ogle is instrumental in leading Friends of Gordon Park, a volunteer group that oversees the planting and protection of the park, while his knowledge of special plants and botanical protection work is also used by the Department of Conservation and councils.

"Because I've been doing it for a number of years, people know I've got an historical perspective on things," he said.

Mr Ogle is a member of the Whanganui Museum Botanical Group and a member of Birds Wanganui. He also volunteers at Bushy Park and gives numerous talks.

Mr Ogle has also been given a lifetime achievement award from the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network.

He loves the work and plans to continue it as long as possible.

"I feel that you're leaving something for the future, something better than it is at present," he said.

Mr Ogle trained as a science teacher before becoming a scientist for the Wildlife Service before it merged with DoC. His wife Robyn, is keenly involved with his work.

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