The NZ Government announced the 2005 New Year Honours this morning. Such honours are part of the historic British tradition, which in New Zealand recognises individuals who have in some way made a significant contribution to the country. An extract from the 'honours' website says: "Our honours system is a way for New Zealand to say thanks and well done to those who have served and those who have achieved. We believe that such recognition is consistent with the egalitarian character of New Zealand society and enlivens and enriches it." More on this can be seen in www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours I know that my friends here will be pleased to know that Dr Anatidae - a.k.a. Neil Hayes - appears in the New Year Honours List with the award of a Queen's Service Medal (QSM) for Community Service, i.e. for spending 34 years attempting to save brown teal. Naturally the Hayes family is elated. Formally receiving the award (the Investiture) will necessitate a trip to Government House in Wellington, sometime in March. The only bad news about this is that a new suit may be needed - not to mention new gear for the wife! Interestingly, the day after I received official word from Government House about the award my best pair of brown teal appropriately hatched five offspring. To top it off, two days ago I received a nice congratulatory letter from our Prime Minister. Naturally, I will be attempting to make sure that brown teal receive lots of publicity as a result of the QSM. And we might just have to open a bottle of bubbly early today!
In a world of so much cruelty, especially to animals, your continued work is appreciated by animal lovers everywhere! May God continue to give you the strength and health in the continued persual of your avocation.
Thanks everyone for your kind words. The past couple of days have been quite exciting, with over 50 congratulatory emails and phone calls. We hit the front page of our regional newspaper (the WAIRARAPA TIME AGE), with a good picture of a brown teal being held by an elder statesman and a very good review. The whole thing has snowballed quite well and we have a reporter coming next week to do a feature for one of NZ's leading farming journals and a request from Europe has arrived for a feature article on brown teal. I'm confident brown teal will get great mileage from the Award. All the best for 2005.