Pride of NZ Awards: Tony Howse

Tony Howse, a sculptor and music teacher, convinced a farm in the Karangahake Gorge, south of Paeroa, to donate just 5% of its hundred acres to regenerate with native bush. If every farm in the country did the same, the country could soak up many more carbon emissions. Mr Howse began his forest reserve by protecting the mature totara bordering the creek, which livestock had been trampling for 30 years. “Two years ago I suggested letting the stream regenerate”, pest eradication came next; native birds returned, enticed with planting by passionate pupils. The next step will be adding more bush walk segments.