Ann and Basil Graeme of Tauranga have been awarded Forest & Bird’s highest honour of Distinguished Life Membership for their service to conservation nationally and in the Bay of Plenty over almost five decades.

Their successful campaigns have included opposing planned destructive developments, such as the discharge of treated sewage into Tauranga Harbour in the 1970s, clearance of Kaimai Mamaku native forest for pine plantations, and development of Tauranga’s wetlands.

The Graemes have also been prominent in leading and taking part in pest control and restoration projects in the Bay of Plenty. They continue to keep track of developments that threaten nature, make submissions and maintain bait lines.

“I find their energy inspiring,” says Forest & Bird President Mark Hanger. “They’ve kept going for a long time and they’ve set incredibly high standards for themselves.”

“They’ve got guts and are not afraid to stand up in pretty hostile rooms and speak up for conservation.”

Basil and Ann Graeme have been awarded Forest & Bird's highest honour. Photo: Supplied.

The Graemes’ advocacy has had a national as well as regional impact.

Basil’s work on native forest clearance helped lead to the Tasman Accord in 1989 and 1991’s New Zealand Forest Accord, which ended clearance of native forest for plantation forestry.  

Ann was the coordinator for the Kiwi Conservation Club (KCC) from 1992 and she edited the KCC magazine Wild Things for over 20 years until 2013. Working with illustrator Tim Galloway, she engaged the curiosity of children and nurtured a new generation of conservationists. 

Her deep knowledge of New Zealand’s natural world captivates adults too in the articles she regularly writes for Forest & Bird magazine.

Basil Graeme. Photo: Supplied.

Ann and Basil shared Forest & Bird’s Central North Island field officer role from 1988 into the late 1990s. During all of their conservation activism and volunteering, they have been a team.

In 2006 they initiated the successful Aongatete Forest Project in the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park which carries out pest control and restoration work over 500ha.

Basil says he and Ann are tremendously grateful to receive the award but added they stood on the shoulders of many conservation experts and leaders, as well as dedicated Forest & Bird members.

Ann added they had always enjoyed what they did, even when it was hard and stressful.

“Forest & Bird enabled us to do so many things we couldn’t have done otherwise and we’ve met a lot of lovely people and been to many special places."

The Graemes aren’t the types to dwell on past successes but they do feel pleasure when they drive past an area of native forest they helped save.

“The forest is still standing and we contributed to saving it. That feels great,” says Ann.

Ann Graeme. Photo: Supplied.

Another important legacy is their three daughters Kate, Meg and Claire, who are all involved in conservation and environmental roles. Kate is Forest & Bird’s Deputy President. 
 
Distinguished Life Membership is Forest & Bird’s highest award and is given in recognition of exceptional long-term service in advancing conservation and the organisation’s objectives, especially at the national level.

Ann and Basil were presented with their Distinguished Life Member award at Forest & Bird’s conference in Wellington on Saturday July 29, which celebrated the centenary of New Zealand’s largest independent conservation organisation.