Northland marine scientist Samara Nicholas made Member of NZ Order of Merit

Samara Nicholas underwater in the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve. Photo / Darryl Torckler

Northland's Samara Nicholas says she had no idea who nominated her for an appointment as member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

She was made a MNZM member for services to marine conservation and education, a field she has been working in for about 15 years.

The Whananaki resident said she was surprised to receive a letter telling her about the honour.

"I'm intrigued as to who nominated us, or who nominated me."

She co-founded the Mountains to the Sea Conservation Trust in 2002 to educate young people about marine conservation through the programme Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR).

Nicholas said she first became interested in marine conservation while a student at Kamo High School, where she was involved in the application to put a marine reserve in Whangārei Harbour.

EMR has expanded over the years and is no longer limited to Northland. There are co-ordinators throughout the country and a sister programme in Australia.

"EMR has now expanded to eight different regions throughout New Zealand. It's like a non-profit franchise," Nicholas said.

"I have been successful due to the awesome team around me - we now have up to 30 EMR co-ordinators around New Zealand."

The programme teaches children about conservation by teaching them about, and taking them to, marine reserves.

Samara Nicholas and her team teach children about marine conservation by taking them to marine reserves. Photo / File

"We start in the classroom, teach them to snorkel, starting in their own local area and then we take them to a marine reserve."

EMR has also expanded to run guided snorkel days in marine reserves anyone can participate in.

Nicholas remained programme director for the trust and national co-ordinator for EMR.

She said it was difficult to measure the impact of the EMR's work, but more than 30,000 students have participated in its guided snorkel experiences.

Nicholas won a Sir Peter Blake Trust Leadership Award in 2005 and has been involved in several Young Blake expeditions since.

"I was a big fan of the work Sir Peter Blake was doing, his work was very inspirational," she said.

She said the MNZM appointment acknowledged the importance of marine conservation.

"It's nice to have something like this, that someone's taken the time to say this work is important.

"In this field, because you are passionate there's no boundary to what you do. You do go above and beyond because you do really enjoy it."