Alec Robert (Ben) Thorpe

Ben was involved with managing public and private nature conservation lands for more than 40 years. He started as a forest ranger with the New Zealand Forest Service 1947-1964.

In 1965 he started with Lands and Survey as an administrator for the National Parks Authority in Wellington.

1975 Chief Ranger Egmont National Park.

1976 Chief Ranger Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park.

In 1979-1984 he was appointed Executive Officer for the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust, then a part-time regional representative for the QEII Trust.

From 1993-2003 he was a regional representative and a Trustee for the Native Forest Restoration Trust (NFRT).

Ben was also actively involved in Forest and Bird throughout his retirement, particularly in relation to the Pauatahaui Wildlife Reserve. One of the 4 hides in this reserve is called the Thorpe Hide, funded by Ben’s brother Hugh Thorpe.

During his tenure with the NFRT in 2002, Ben was instrumental in establishing what was then the QEII Trust's largest reserve - Pigeon Bush. It remains the NFRT’s largest reserve.

Ben was involved in a number of activities outside his conservation and forestry work. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church throughout his life, including many years as an Elder. He volunteered for war service in Korea between 1952 and 54 and subsequently became an active member of the Korean Veterans Association (KVA) and the RSA. He worked in the Lower Hutt Foodbank for 17 years, including several years as its Chair. He helped with refugee resettlement over several years and did Meals on Wheels.

Ben also walked a lot. This included most of the streets in the greater Wellington region, a walk up the length of the North Island and two trips across from Cape Kidnappers to Cape Egmont.

Ben graduated with a Diploma in Parks and Recreation from Lincoln University in 1980 (aged 52), his first educational qualification. His son, Tim Thorpe, had graduated two years earlier (1978) with a Bachelor of Forestry Science from Canterbury University, having followed his father into forestry.