Brook Sanctuary founder leaves lasting legacy

Brook Waimarama Sanctuary founding Trustee David (Dave) Butler passed away on 20 December, 2020.

Dave was an ornithologist and conservation biologist whose huge contribution to his field was recognised in June 2020 with a Queen’s Service Medal. He was Chair of the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Trust from its establishment in 2004 until 2019.

Fellow trustee and founding member Derek Shaw said that Dave leaves a tremendous legacy for future generations with his long leadership role and work on establishing the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary. 

“This legacy also extends throughout the country and to numerous Pacific nations through his work on many other ecological restoration projects, such as the Nature Recovery Project at St Arnaud in Nelson Lakes National Park”.      

The Brook Sanctuary Project created a 700ha fenced nature reserve in the former Nelson City Council waterworks reserve in the headwaters of the Brook stream. It was first conceived in 2001.

Dave took on the role of Chair of the founding steering group and subsequently became Chair of the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Trust when it was established in 2004, only stepping down due to health issues in April 2019.

Mayor Rachel Reese says that Dave’s QSM for his contributions to conservation recognised just how much he had given to the Nelson community. “Dave’s work was vital in taking the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary from an idea to a reality.

“Whilst it was undoubtedly due to the effort of many dedicated people, Dave showed great leadership and determination to achieve a legacy we can all be proud of.”

Long before the establishment of the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Trust, Dave’s career in conservation began with an MA (Honours) in Zoology from Oxford University and a PHD in Zoology from Aberdeen University.

His CV included a stint as chair of the Nelson Branch of Forest and Bird, and managing the Department of Conservation Nature Recovery project at St. Arnaud. More recently through his consultancy David Butler Associates Ltd. and from 2012 through R&D Environmental Ltd, he worked on conservation projects in New Zealand and the Pacific, including recovery work for threatened bird species in Samoa.

Dave was the co-author of several books including ‘Paradise Saved’ (with Tony Lindsay and Janet Hunt); ‘The Black Robin: Saving the World’s Most Endangered Bird’ (with Don Merton), and author of ‘Quest for the Kakapo: The full story of New Zealand’s most remarkable bird’.

In 2010, Dave won the Environmental Leadership Award in the Nelson Tasman Environment Awards. In 2015, he was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Nelson, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the community.

On receiving his QSM, Dave told local media that he shared the award with his wife Donna and their two daughters whose support “enabled him to work so hard on the sanctuary”.
 
"I feel very much that I'm accepting the award on behalf of quite a team of people who have been working with me," he said.

Ru Collins, Chief Executive of the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary, said that during Dave’s tenure as Chair the hard work to establish the sanctuary was achieved. 

”We’re now in a position to embark on the next stage of engaging with the community behind the sanctuary, improving the visitor experience and restoring the living ecosystem so we can celebrate what we have as well as looking at future species re-introductions.”