Honour For Duck-nut

[Neil Hayes]

The NZ Government announced the 2005 New Year Honours this morning. Such honours are part of the historic British tradition, which in New Zealand recognises individuals who have in some way made a significant contribution to the country. An extract from the 'honours' website says: ]"Our honours system is a way for New Zealand to say thanks and well done to those who have served and those who have achieved. We believe that such recognition is consistent with the egalitarian character of New Zealand society and enlivens and enriches it."[/B] More on this can be seen in www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours I know that some members here will be pleased to know that Dr Anatidae - a.k.a. Neil Hayes - appears in the New Year Honours List with the award of a Queen's Service Medal (QSM) for Community Service, i.e. for spending 34 years attempting to save brown teal. Naturally the Hayes family is elated. Formally receiving the award (the Investiture) will necessitate a trip to Government House in Wellington, sometime in March. The only bad news about this is that a new suit may be needed - not to mention new gear for the wife!
Interestingly, the day after I received official word from Government House about the award my best pair of brown teal appropriately hatched five offspring. To top it off, two days ago I received a nice congratulatory letter from our Prime Minister. Naturally, I will be attempting to make sure that brown teal receive lots of publicity as a result of the QSM. And we might just have to open a bottle of bubbly early today!

[plcscott]

Congrats Neil, that is a great!

[J]

Many congratulations, Dr Hayes QSM!

This is a well-deserved honour for your longstanding work in the conservationist cause - an award for the brown teal as well as for yourself.

[A-N]

:cool: Congrats Neil on a well deserved award.

[Dennis Ruhl]

Excellent!

I would consider the honour a big deal.

[James Grey]

The NZ Government announced the 2005 New Year Honours this morning. Such honours are part of the historic British tradition, which in New Zealand recognises individuals who have in some way made a significant contribution to the country. An extract from the 'honours' website says: ]"Our honours system is a way for New Zealand to say thanks and well done to those who have served and those who have achieved. We believe that such recognition is consistent with the egalitarian character of New Zealand society and enlivens and enriches it."[/B] More on this can be seen in www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours I know that some members here will be pleased to know that Dr Anatidae - a.k.a. Neil Hayes - appears in the New Year Honours List with the award of a Queen's Service Medal (QSM) for Community Service, i.e. for spending 34 years attempting to save brown teal. Naturally the Hayes family is elated. Formally receiving the award (the Investiture) will necessitate a trip to Government House in Wellington, sometime in March. The only bad news about this is that a new suit may be needed - not to mention new gear for the wife!
Interestingly, the day after I received official word from Government House about the award my best pair of brown teal appropriately hatched five offspring. To top it off, two days ago I received a nice congratulatory letter from our Prime Minister. Naturally, I will be attempting to make sure that brown teal receive lots of publicity as a result of the QSM. And we might just have to open a bottle of bubbly early today!

Congratulations.

Remember that the ward comes before your degrees.

I have just got off the phone from talking with our PM who will consider your case for keeping your award when NZ becomes our next State.

By the way - you stick up for the dcuks, and get an award, yet you sell ammunition? It that solely to knock off the other types of ducks?

[Neil Hayes]

Congratulations.
Remember that the ward comes before your degrees.
I have just got off the phone from talking with our PM who will consider your case for keeping your award when NZ becomes our next State.
By the way - you stick up for the dcuks, and get an award, yet you sell ammunition? It that solely to knock off the other types of ducks?

Thanks for putting a good word in for me with your PM Peter.
Duck hunters in NZ are fortunate that Europeans (mainly UK Europeans) introduced a number of waterfowl species in the late 1800's and early 1900's - mallards, Canadian geese and black swan (from Ausie), that all decided they liked it here and multiplied in large numbers - and hunters have had to keep these species under control. Sadly Europeans also introduced cats, ferrets, stoats, hedgehogs and rats and it is these animals that have lead to the near demise of brown teal. Brown teal have been totally protected from duck hunting since 1921.
But in respect of waterfowl conservationists, and other wild animal conservationistists, the majority of better known individuals have all been hunters - at some time or other; with Sir Peter Scott being one of the most widely known figures.
In the massive tome "THE WORLD OF SHOOTING", written by two South Africans, it was clearly shown that hunters are the world's best conservationists.

[James Grey]

Thanks for putting a good word in for me with your PM Peter.

My pleasure

Duck hunters in NZ are fortunate that Europeans (mainly UK Europeans)

You mean Poms?

introduced a number of waterfowl species in the late 1800's and early 1900's - mallards,

That is one species

Canadian geese

Canada is not in Canada?

and black swan (from Ausie),

Our National emblem but that doesn't matter <sob>

that all decided they liked it here and multiplied in large numbers

Like NZ sheep you mean?

- and hunters have had to keep these species under control.

They are all in your 'axis of evil'?

Sadly Europeans also introduced cats, ferrets, stoats, hedgehogs and rats

Can you relate thse to specific nationalities?

and it is these animals that have lead to the near demise of brown teal. Brown teal have been totally protected from duck hunting since 1921.

Mmmm ... a little discriminatory perhaps?

But in respect of waterfowl conservationists, and other wild animal conservationistists, the majority of better known individuals have all been hunters - at some time or other; with Sir Peter Scott being one of the most widely known figures.
In the massive tome "THE WORLD OF SHOOTING", written by two South Africans, it was clearly shown that hunters are the world's best conservationists.

Most interesting, so can I conclude that:

1. All ducks are equal but yours are more equal? :~(
2. Degree mills are the worlds best universities? ... trying to keep on topic :lol:

Anyway Happy New Year and don't crow too loud as you are only 2 hours ahead of us - the Tongans tell us they are the only true New Year people, so :p .

Today is the day that you look at www.wotif.com and find a New Years Eve Party/Accommodation bargain and take your wife [or someone else's?] away for the night. I found a lovely one an hour and a half away - nothing like fresh country air.

[Neil Hayes]

Most interesting, so can I conclude that:

1. All ducks are equal but yours are more equal? :~(
2. Degree mills are the worlds best universities? ... trying to keep on topic :lol:
Anyway Happy New Year and don't crow too loud as you are only 2 hours ahead of us - the Tongans tell us they are the only true New Year people, so :p .
Today is the day that you look at www.wotif.com and find a New Years Eve Party/Accommodation bargain and take your wife [or someone else's?] away for the night. I found a lovely one an hour and a half away - nothing like fresh country air.

Peter, Can you tell me what 'degree mills' have to do with a QSM, unless you believe our PM's department offers bogus degrees?

[Neil Hayes]

Thanks everyone for your kind words. The past couple of days have been quite exciting, with over 50 congratulatory emails and phone calls. We hit the front page of our regional newspaper (Wairarapa Time Age), with a good picture of a brown teal being held by an elder statesman and a very good review. The whole thing has snowballed quite well and we have a reporter coming next week to do a feature for one of NZ's leading farming journals and a request from Europe has arrived for a feature article on brown teal. I'm confident brown teal will get great mileage from the Award.
All the best for 2005.

[Neil Hayes]

The latest info on brown teal can be seen on:

http://www.harteman.nl/omnibus/anseriformes/ducks/brown-teal.html

[Robert J.]

Neil:

I put the Brown Teal Conservation Website on Degreeboard's Links Page.

It's here (http://www.degreeboard.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=46).

Hope it helps.

[Neil Hayes]

Neil:
I put the Brown Teal Conservation Website on Degreeboard's Links Page.
It's here (http://www.degreeboard.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=46).
Hope it helps.

Many thanks for that Robert J. Greatly appreciated.