Stuart Thorne is one of three Wanaka people to be honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Stuart (Stu) Thorne of Albert Town has been awarded the Queens Service Medal (QSM) for services to conservation and search and rescue.

Stu has contributed to conservation, search and rescue, and outdoor recreation for 50 years.

He told the Wanaka App that while he was “very honoured”, he was also grateful for the opportunities he has had to work with other people.

“I’d like to say it’s not just about me. I’ve always worked with a good team of people, not only in SAR but also the conservation work I’ve done: always dedicated, skilled volunteers.”

Stu worked with the Lands and Survey Department and then the Department of Conservation (DOC) for 40 years, and early in his career achieved outstanding results in eradicating lagarosiphon major from Lake Wanaka.

Heather and Stu in the Matukituki Valley.

He helped reintroduce Buff Weka to the islands of Lake Wanaka in 2001 and the South Island Robin to the West Matukituki Valley in 2008. The South Island Robin population has since increased from 25 birds to approximately 400. 

Stu cites these achievements as two highlights he is especially proud of, along with his search and rescue work.

From 1984 to 2014 he was a SAR police advisor in the Wanaka region and was involved in more than 150 search and rescue missions, many of which took place in difficult and dangerous conditions.

“That’s been a highlight for me,” Stu said.

“It’s a really great bunch of people, a really dedicated and skilled bunch of people. It’s just been great working with teams of people like that.”

Stu also volunteers for the Matukituki Charitable Trust and DOC with trapping and monitoring programmes and as a hut warden in the Mt Aspiring National Park.

“I’m keeping my hand in,” he said, adding he hopes to continue this work for as long as he can.

Stu was instrumental in establishing the Upper Clutha Tramping Club and has volunteered for Te Kakano, which replants native trees in the Upper Clutha area. He was a member of the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council for 29 years, including a term as chairperson. He has been president of Wanaka Jaycees, secretary of the Wanaka Lions Club, and a group leader for Wanaka Venturer Scouts.

“I’m just thankful for the opportunities I’ve had and got to do things with a lot of other people,” he said.

“My greatest thanks go to my wife Heather, who kept things going over the years.”

Read more: For the birds: Stu Thorne