Awards

Associate of Honour of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (AHRIH)

Awarded to persons who have given distinguished service to horticulture in New Zealand.

This is a select group because the RNZIH rules state that no more than 60 people can hold the award, and no more than three awards are given per year. Associates of Honour need not be members of the RNZIH.

Recipients of the Associate of Honour

  1. Current Associates
  2. Previous Associates

1. Current Associates

2025

  • Megan Parker
    • Location: Paraparaumu
    • Citation: New Zealand Garden Journal, 2025, Vol. 28(1): in prep.
  • Dr Michael David Wilcox
    • Location: Auckland
    • Citation: New Zealand Garden Journal, 2025, Vol. 28(1): in prep.
  • Susan (‘Sue’) Sarah Wickison
    • Location: Auckland
    • Citation: New Zealand Garden Journal, 2025, Vol. 28(1): in prep.

2024

  • Desmond (‘Des’) Allan Snell
    • Location: Auckland
    • Joined RNZIH: 12 May 2023
    • Citation: New Zealand Garden Journal, 2024, Vol. 27(2): 27–28
  • Diane Ada Griffin
    • Location: Auckland
    • Joined RNZIH (via Auckland Horticultural Council): 10 Aug 2014
    • Citation: New Zealand Garden Journal, 2024, Vol. 27(2): 28
  • John McCullough
    • Location: New Plymouth
    • Citation: New Zealand Garden Journal, 2024, Vol. 27(2): 29

2023

  • Dr Ronald (‘Ron’) Alan Beatson
    • Location: Motueka
    • Citation: New Zealand Garden Journal, 2024, Vol. 27(1): 29–31
  • Christopher (‘Chris’) James Barnaby
    • Location: Christchurch
    • Joined RNZIH: 9 May 2016
    • Citation: New Zealand Garden Journal, 2024, Vol. 27(1): 28–29
  • Noelyn Margaret Parr
    • Location: Auckland
    • Joined RNZIH: 26 Jan 1961
    • Citation: New Zealand Garden Journal, 2024, Vol. 27(1): 32–33

2001

1999

1997

1996

1995

1993

1992

1991

1990

1989

1988

1987

1986

  • Mrs Barbara J. Cave
    • Location: Dunedin
    • Joined RNZIH: 18 Feb 1975
    • Citation: Annual Journal of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, 1986/87, No. 14: 59
    • Note: Barbara Cave was active in the Dunedin Horticultural Society from 1960 and was publicity officer for Festival displays. She was a foundation member of the Dunedin Floral Art Society and national councillor of FloralArt NZ Inc, editor of FASNZ and national president 1979–81. She was also chairperson of Education Committee of Teachers and Judges Assn and from 1971 committee member of RNZIH District Council and chairperson 1982–86. She died in Renwick, Marlborough.

1984

1983

1980

  • Mrs Daisy Alice Hardwick
    • Location: Tauranga
    • Joined RNZIH: 15 Apr 1966
    • Citation: Annual Journal (Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture), 1980, No. 8: 68
    • Deceased: YOB 1906 / YOD 1989
    • Note: Daisy Hardwick was an enthusiast for ornamental and domestic horticulture in the Tauranga district. From 1952 she presented fortnightly garden talks on on the radio – 1YD Rotorua and from 1961 on 1ZD Tauranga. She wrote a gardening column for the Bay of Plenty Times for 16 years. She was Patroness of Tauranga Federation of Gardening Clubs and supporter of the Bay of Plenty District Council RNZIH.
  • Mr Edward H. (Hugh) Latimer
    • Location: Auckland
    • Joined RNZIH: 1 Jun 1962
    • Citation: Annual Journal (Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture), 1980, No. 8: 67–68
    • Deceased: 2 Jul 2009
    • Note: Hugh Latimer joined the Department of Agriculture in 1950. He then joined the Justice Department becoming Farm Supervisor for Waikaria Prison Farm where he developed an interest in horticultural crops. In 1959, Hugh Latimer was originally appointed Superintendent of Cornwall Park Farm, Auckland until 1986. He then was appointed Park Director of Cornwall Park Trust Board producing 20,000 plants (many natives) for planting around Auckland. He retired in 1991. Hugh was on the Executive of the Institute of Parks and Recreation for many years and was President of the Auckland District Council RNZIH.

1979

1977

1976

1975

1974

  • Mrs Doris Benstead
    • Location: Lower Hutt
    • Joined RNZIH: 10 Nov 1966
    • Citation: Annual Journal (Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture), 1976, No. 4: 60–61
    • Note: Doris Benstead had a lifetime of gardening in Lower Hutt. She was instrumental in setting up the Townswomens Guild in Lower Hutt with one aim to foster gardening. She organised Evening Garden Circle for Hutt Valley Horticultural Society and gave many gardening talks emphasizing correct naming of plants for exhibition purposes.

1973

1971

  • Mr Carl A. Teschner
    • Location: Otago
    • Citation: Journal of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, n.s., 1971, Vol. 2(2): 51–52
    • Deceased: YOB 1892–1893 / YOD 1971
    • Note: Carl Teschner was a nurseryman and a gardener, particularly of alpines. Teschner, D’Arcy Blackburn, and Emily Jean Stevens were co-founders of the New Zealand Iris Society. He may have been apprenticed to a nursery in the Dandenongs. During the war he joined the Australian Territorials and served in Palestine, and came to Gore after the war and bought a farm ‘Whiterig’ and also had a small nursery there. He moved to Dunedin about 1942 and developed a nursery in Montague Street. Rock gardening and species iris were his main horticultural interests and his Dunedin Garden was a Mecca for New Zealander’s and overseas visitors. A few weeks before he died he received notification that the distinction of Associate of Honour of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, of which he was a Fellow, had been conferred on him.

1970

  • Mr Bernard Hollard
    • Location: Kaponga
    • Joined RNZIH: 28 Jan 1948
    • Citation: Journal of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, n.s., 1970, Vol. 1(6): 266
    • Deceased: 1996
    • Note: Bernard Hollard was a gardener and may also have been a nurseryman. He was known for growing rhododendrons. He may have been the breeder of Rhododendron ‘Kaponga’ and similar cultivars. Bernard owned Hollard gardens, the first garden gifted to the QEII Trust and now owned by Taranaki Regional Council.

1969

1968

  • Prof Hugh Douglas Gordon
    • Location: Wellington
    • Joined RNZIH: c.1948 
    • Deceased: DOB 28 Feb 1912 / DOD 23 Oct 1978
    • Obituary: New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1979, Vol. 17: 229–230
    • Note: Hugh Gordon was ex Professor and Head of Botany Department, Victoria University of Wellington 1947–1977. He was a member of the Examining Board for the National Diploma in Horticulture for almost 30 years, and the board’s chairman for many years.
  • Mr Frederick (‘Fred’) Leo Parker MBE
    • Location: New Plymouth
    • Deceased: 1982–1983?
    • Obituary: Bulletin, 1983, No. 27, p.8
    • Note: Fred Parker was a great New Plymouth gardener and plant breeder who helped develop the Ferneries complex at Pukekura Park and served on the Pukekura Park Committee from 1926–1966. He was responsible for raising various plants such as Erica ‘Parkeri’. His home Parkers Gardens was well known. He was an original member of the Pukekura Park Committee and served on this for over 40 years. Also known for work with the Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust. He was awarded an MBE and an AHRIH in 1968.
  • Mr John P. Salinger
    • Location: Palmerston North
    • Deceased: Feb 1987
    • Note: John Salinger was for many years a strong supporter of the RNZIH and an examiner for NDH in the 1960s. He specialised in flower growing and based his PhD on flower production, and wrote many articles on this subject. In 1967 he was appointed as senior lecturer in horticulture at Massey University and represented the Universities on the Loder Cup committee.
  • Mr J. (Jack) E. Hume
    • Location: Palmerston North
    • Joined RNZIH: 2 Aug 1963
    • Note: Jack Hume was probably an examiner from the Department of Agriculture (or the Horticulture Division). He may also have had some involvement as an examiner for the National Diploma in Horticulture.

1967

  • Mrs Nancy Steen
    • Location: Auckland
    • Citation: New Zealand Plants & Garden, 1967, Vol. 7(3): 136
    • Deceased: YOB 1898 / YOD 1986
    • Note: Nancy Steen displayed an early talent for gardening and art. During her lifetime she embraced a range of activities in these two complementary fields, including working as a studio artist in the 1920s at an advertising agency, exhibiting regularly at the Auckland Society of Arts, developing several gardens of her own as well as landscaping others’ gardens. Her passion for old roses motivated her to dedicate herself to the study, drawing, photography and cultivation of old roses in New Zealand and overseas. She was keenly sought after as a speaker and writer, and, with her husband, spent holidays and weekends touring the countryside searching out old species of roses. Her authoritative book The Charm of Old Roses was published in 1966 and has ensured her a place among the world’s authorities on old roses. The Nancy Steen Rose Garden in Parnell, Auckland is named in her honour.
  • Mr John Watling
    • Location: Halswell/Canterbury
    • Citation: New Zealand Plants & Garden, 1967, Vol. 7(3): 138
    • Note: John Watling was a prominent member of the Canterbury Horticultural Society and the Christchurch Beautifying Society. He was a long-time judge of garden competitions and had a fine garden in Kennedy’s Bush Road.
  • Mrs N. V. Anderson

1966

1964

1963

  • Mr Charles (‘Charlie’) R. Reader
    • Location: Auckland
    • Citation: New Zealand Plants & Garden, 1963, Vol. 5(2): 83–84
    • Deceased: DOB 8 Jul 1892 / YOD 1976
    • Note: Charlie Reader was the great all rounder. He must hold the record for attendance at conferences – always took part in the proceedings and had the amusing habit of apologising to the chairman for being always on his feet. (From notes written by the late Jim Hunter).
    • Note: He was probably a founder of the Auckland Horticultural Council, and they may have the date of his death. He was a delightful character. He died suddenly while hoeing the border beside the drive, aged 82.

1962

  • Mr Huia Gray Gilpin
    • Location: Christchurch
    • Joined RNZIH: 20 Aug 1949
    • Citation: New Zealand Plants & Garden, 1962, Vol. 4(6): 285
    • Note: Huia Gilpin was a Grounds Superintendent for the North Canterbury Hospital Board and then a former Director of Parks and Reserves, Christchurch. He was also a long time examiner for NDH, and a member of the Parks Institute National Executive.
  • Mr Roy L. Thornton
    • Location: Auckland
    • Citation: New Zealand Plants & Garden, 1962, Vol. 4(6): 286
    • Deceased: 1968–1969 (Journal of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, n.s., 1970, Vol. 1(6): 274)
    • Note: Roy Thornton. When I first knew him he was chauffeur-gardener to a lady in Auckland – I forget her name. He was the propagator at Hays [nursery], excellent with green cuttings of dahlias, then with NZ Railways. He planted the natives around Auckland Station but did not develop the formal gardens in front. Garden expert over 1YA (radio) for many years. With his second wife he did good work in building up the Auckland Horticultural Council and of course Mt Smart was his brainchild. (From notes written by the late Jim Hunter).
    • Note: Mt Smart was the volcanic cone largely excavated to make an athletics arena, since converted to a large stadium, home of the Warriors (league team) and the ‘Big Day Out’ – an annual rock/pop music event. Roy Thornton persuaded the Council of the time to plant the remaining outer slope of the cone with natives so there is a small forest there now.

1962/1948

  • Mr John Grettom C. Mackenzie
    • Location: Wellington
    • Citation: New Zealand Gardener, 1948, Vol. 4: 526
    • Citation: New Zealand Plants & Garden, 1962, Vol. 4(6): 285–286
    • Note: Mackenzie was a Wellington City Parks supervisor from 1918–1947 and largely responsible for planting the town belts during the depression. His two sons Dugald and Jack went on to play similar roles in Palmerston North and Hastings respectively.
    • Note: Mackenzie’s award was transferred from an Honorary Fellowship following changes to the RNZIH constitution in 1947.

1961

  • Mr James (‘Jim’) A. S. Hunter
    • Location: Morrinsville/Auckland
    • Joined RNZIH: 1 Feb 1933
    • Citation: New Zealand Plants & Garden, 1961, Vol. 4(2): 77–78
    • Deceased: MOB Aug 1901 / YOD 2002
    • Note: Jim Hunter was born in Scotland and studied at the West Scotland Agricultural College. He came to New Zealand in 1925 and worked in a variety of horticultural enterprises including the leading nursery firm of D.H. Hay. He qualified for the New Zealand National Diploma in Horticulture (NDH) in 1933. After serving with the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War II he joined Plant Diseases Division, DSIR, at Mt Albert, where he spent the rest of his professional career, eventually becoming Head of the Horticulture and Plant Quarantine. At Mt Albert, he worked for many years with Ted Chamberlain and Torchy Atkinson identifying the virus diseases of fruit trees, especially apples. He was thus an important part of the team that freed many of our most important apple cultivars of virus, a major contribution to the pipfruit industry of New Zealand. Mr Hunter’s skills as a propagator were also in demand when material of the newly discovered species from the Three Kings Islands was brought back to the mainland by Professor G.T.S. Baylis. A notable achievement was his propagation of Tecomanthe speciosa and he published accounts of the first recorded flowering and fruiting of this species, now recognised as one of the most ornamental of our native plants. Mr Hunter was very active in horticultural societies and had been a member of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture since 1928. He served on the Auckland District Council and also on the Dominion Council. He was also associated with the Auckland Horticultural Council and various rose societies. He was elected an Associate of Honour of the RNZIH in 1961. He was also one of the members of the DSIR staff who were active in promoting the establishment of the Botanic Gardens in Auckland. Mt Hunter had a strong interest in the ornamental possibilities of New Zealand native plants and in 1955, when he was attending the 14th International Horticultural Conference, he proposed that New Zealand become the International Registration Authority for the genera Hebe and Leptospermum. It is therefore particularly pleasing that he saw the publication of the checklist of Hebe cultivars. This was a mammoth task, sponsored by the RNZIH. (From RNZIH Auckland Branch Newsletter).

1960

  • Mr John Houston
    • Location: Hawera
    • Citation: New Zealand Plants & Garden, 1960, Vol. 3(6): 270
    • Deceased: YOB 1891 / DOD 20 Jun 1962
    • Note: Taranaki Herald, 20 June 1962, p. 3: DEATH OF HAWERA LAWYER: A Hawera lawyer, Mr John Houston OBE, LLB, a former dominion president of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture and one who has won recognition for his wide knowledge and interest in the Maori race, died in the New Plymouth Hospital today. He was 70. Born in Dunedin in 1891, he was educated at Albany Street School, Otago Boys’ High School and Otago University, from where he graduated at the age of 19. For many years Mr Houston showed a keen and deep interest in horticulture, especially in regard to the home gardeners of New Zealand, and in 1955 was elected Dominion president of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. The South Taranaki District Council was formed in November, 1948, and for the first 10 years, Mr Houston was local president, exhibiting his administrative ability in guiding the new council. He was a member of the Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust board of management, and in 1954 was elected president of the Taranaki Floral Festival. In 1952, under Mr Houston’s chairmanship all the horticultural societies of Taranaki combined in promoting a national horticultural show which was an unqualified success, due in no small measure to Mr Houston’s leadership. It was this show which led to the Taranaki Floral Festival. Mr Houston also played an active part in several organisations associated with the Maori race and the preservation of the country’s flora and fauna. Through the Archaeological Society of New Zealand, the National Historic Places Trust and the New Zealand Forest and Bird Protection Society, Mr Houston has won recognition for his wide knowledge and interest. He was the author of several articles and had much to do with the restoration of the ancient walled pa of Turuturu Mokai, near Hawera. During World War I, Mr Houston served in the Medical Corps as a Quarter-master Sergeant and during World War II commanded the Hawera Home Guard as major, later transferring to the New Zealand temporary staff in Central Military District. At the time of his death Mr Houston was a member of the South Taranaki branch of the RSA and the Gallipoli Association. He was president of the RSA between 1946 and 1948.
  • Mr Dugald C. MacKenzie
    • Location: Palmerston North
    • Citation: New Zealand Plants & Garden, 1960, Vol. 3(6): 270
    • Deceased: mid-1960s
    • Note: this name may have been misspelt in the citation as “Dougald C. Mackenzie” [check]
    • Dugald C. MacKenzie was a Superintendent of Parks for Palmerston North City and possibly an examiner for NDH. There was a NDH Prize named in his honour.

1959

  • Mr John R Templin
    • Location: Christchurch
    • Deceased: 1961
    • Note: President of the Canterbury Horticultural Society at the time of his death in 1961. Also belonged to the Lily Society, the Rose Society, and the Summit Road Scenic Preservation Society. American-born and established the JR Templin travelling scholarships in engineering and horticulture.
  • Mr Maurice R. Skipworth
    • Location: Dunedin (formerly Wanaka)
    • Joined RNZIH: 10 Mar 1947
    • Note: Maurice Skipworth was a breeder of rhododendrons and Superintendent of Parks of Dunedin City Council, succeeding David Tannock

Pre-1959

  • J. S. Dakers
    • Location: England
    • Note: James Silver Dakers was an author of several gardening books in the 1940s to 1960s.
  • F. R. Long
    • Location etc.: ?
  • R. H. Long
    • Location etc.: ?

1958

  • Mr A. M. W. Greig
    • Location: Wellington/Tauranga
    • Note: Greig was Director General of Horticulture in the Department of Agriculture in the 1950s. He spent a lot of his life in Auckland but resided in Wellington when head of department. On retirement he went to live in Christchurch where he died.

1957

Pre-1955

  • Mr Michael Christian Gudex MBE
    • Location: Hamilton
    • Deceased: 1964
    • Note: the Gudex Memorial Park in Cambridge is named after him. In 1963 the Crown bought 3 ha of open park land near the summit of Sanatorium Hill. A stone obelisk was erected in memory of Michael Christian Gudex MBE, MA, MSc (1887–1964) commemorating his contribution to horticulture and the preservation of New Zealand’s natural resources. The small kauri grove in the park was planted by Mr Gudex in 1960. See Journal of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, n.s., 1968, Vol. 1(1): 9-11.
  • Sir Robert Lachlan Macalister
    • Location: Wellington
    • Note: Robert Macalister was Mayor of Wellington (1950–1956)

1953

  • Mr E. Hutt
    • Location: Wellington 

1951

  • Mr W. J. Humm
    • Location: Christchurch
    • Deceased: 1967–1974?

1948

  • Mr George Sutherland Nicoll
    • Location: Lower Hutt
    • Citation: New Zealand Gardener, 1948, Vol. 4: 525
    • Deceased: 19 Sept 1950
    • Obituary: as supplied by grandaughter, Carole Seymour (nee Howie), and probably written by her father, John Kenward Howie, for a newspaper: Wellington’s best-known and oldest amateur horticulturist, Mr. G. S. Nicoll, died suddenly yesterday, aged 74 years. Ever since he came to live in Wellington soon after the turn of the present century, Mr. Nicoll had been actively interested in flower-growing and through the years he took an active part in the administrative side of horticulture. Mr. Nicoll’s father landed in Dunedin in 1861 with five shillings in his pocket. Mr. Nicoll was born at Blue Spur, originally Gabriel’s Gully, in the neighbourhood of which at that time there were some 25,000 miners searching for gold. A neighbour of the Nicoll family was Mr. J. J. Woods, clerk of the Tuapeka County Council, who wrote the music of “God Defend New Zealand”. After leaving Lawrence District High School and Otago Boys’ High School the late Mr. Nicoll joined the staff of the Government Life Insurance Department at Dunedin, and he served with that department subsequently at Oamaru, Whanganui and Wellington. Later in his career he transferred to the National Provident and Friendly Societies Department, of which he was chief clerk when he retired in 1932. Mr. Nicoll was one of the earliest residents of Karori. He made his home in Joll Street at a time when there were only 500 people living in what is now Wellington’s biggest suburb. Although as a young man Mr. Nicoll was interested in Rugby football, cricket, cycling, and in fact most forms of sport, all his spare time in his later years was devoted to gardening. He was the first secretary of the Karori Horticultural Society, of which he later became president. He was president of the Northland Horticultural Society, secretary of the Wellington Horticultural Society and secretary of the Institute of Horticulture. At the time of his death he was a committee member of the Institute and a life member of the Wellington Horticultural Society. In 1908 Mr. Nicoll married Miss Alice May Sinnet, of Wellington. Mrs. Nicoll died in 1946. There are two daughters, Mrs. Alison Howie, of Petone, and Mrs. Maire Compton, of Lyall Bay, and one son, Mr. Frank Nicoll, of Khandallah. The late Mr. Nicoll will be remembered by a wide circle of friends, not only in Wellington, but throughout New Zealand.
    • Note: Mr. Nicoll’s position as secretary of the RNZIH from 1932 until 1945 is acknowledged in the Journal of the RNZIH, 1945, Vol.14, No.4: 73–74
  • Mr George Edward Knowles
    • Location: Timaru
    • Citation: New Zealand Gardener, 1948, Vol. 4: 526
    • Deceased: DOB 14 Jan 1879 / DOD 19 Dec 1965
  • Mr Peter Black
    • Location: New Plymouth
    • Citation: New Zealand Gardener, 1948, Vol. 4: 526
    • Deceased: 19 July 1950
    • Note: Black’s award was transferred from an Honorary Fellowship following changes to the RNZIH constitution in 1947
  • Mr William Henry Rice
    • Location: Auckland
    • Citation: New Zealand Gardener, 1948, Vol. 4: 526
    • Deceased: DOB 5 Sept 1886 / YOD 1972
  • Mrs Anne Burgess
    • Location: New Plymouth
    • Citation: New Zealand Gardener, 1948, Vol. 4: 526
  • F. D. Lennie
    • Citation: New Zealand Gardener, 1948, Vol. 4: 526
    • Note: Lennie’s award was transferred from an Honorary Fellowship following changes to the RNZIH constitution in 1947
  • T. Horton
    • Citation: New Zealand Gardener, 1948, Vol. 4: 526
    • Note: Horton’s award was transferred from an Honorary Fellowship following changes to the RNZIH constitution in 1947
  • G. W. Wright
    • Citation: New Zealand Gardener, 1948, Vol. 4: 526
    • Note: Wright’s award was transferred from an Honorary Fellowship following changes to the RNZIH constitution in 1947