Kelly Tarlton trophy goes to late Northland shipwreck pioneer Noel Hilliam

SHIPWRECK HUNTERS: Noel Hilliam surveys the stern of the Selcombe Castle near Aranga Beach on Northland's Ripiro coast, in 2009.

The inaugural Kelly Tarlton trophy recognising services to New Zealand's underwater heritage has been awarded posthumously to Kaipara man Noel Hilliam.

As well as a tribute to the late Mr Hilliam's marine explorations on wrecked ships and early New Zealand history, the award recognises a lifelong friendship.

Both underwater heritage pioneers, Mr Hilliam and Mr Tarlton were born in Te Kopuru seven weeks apart, went to the same school, attended the local Boy Scouts and did a lot of diving together.

Mr Hilliam, who died in September this year, was the first president of the New Zealand Underwater Heritage Group (NZUHG) which has initiated the award.

The Kelly Tarlton Award for Services to Underwater Heritage recognises individuals or groups who have made significant and lasting contributions through research, practice or advocacy to underwater heritage, maritime archaeology or maritime history.

It was received by Mr Hilliam's widow, Julie, and family members at a function at the Dargaville Museum recently. Mr Tarlton's widow, Rosemary, and one of his daughters, Fiona, were also present.

Marine explorer, diver, conservationist and treasure hunter, Mr Tarlton died in 1985, only weeks after the opening of the Auckland aquarium and marine education centre he set up.

He was posthumously inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame in 2012 and is regarded by many as New Zealand's equivalent of Jacques Cousteau.

Nominations for the first award of its kind in his name were called for during the year and the recipient announced at the NZUHG annual general meeting in November.

The trophy is made of relics from the wreck of the SS Elingamite which went down at the Three Kings Islands in November 1902.

Mr Tarlton and others, including Whangarei marine conservationist Wade Doak, located and dived the wreck in the 1960s.

The NZUHG award was presented at Dargaville Museum because Mr Hilliam was a driving force in getting the maritime-themed museum complex built and maintained a close association with the facility.