Tony Perrett

I started as a National Park Ranger at Arthurs Pass National Park on 6/7/1970, after a youth spent roaming the park and surrounds. After five years (left 29/8/1975), I relocated to Hokitika to manage Westland Reserves. During this stint I oversaw the salvage from a watery grave and relocation of the Lake Mahinapua Paddle Steamer to its resting place on the lake foreshore. Some Walkway development occurred around Lakes Mahinapua and Kaniere but the biggest project which heavily involved the local community was the development of the Ross Historic Goldfields Walkways. The restoration of the Okarito Wharf and development of the network of walking tracks at the Brunner Mine site also happened at this time.

This interest in historic sites management led to my appointment and transfer to Dunedin in 1980 as Chief Ranger (Otago Reserves) initially to get the embryonic Otago Goldfields Park established and open to the public. I oversaw traditional Reserves activities with staff at Queenstown, Alexandra, Owaka (SE Otago Reserves) and Omarama/Otematata (Waitaki Lakes).

In 1982/3 I was involved in the Land Settlement Board Pastoral Lands Trial Assessment Study of the Rock and Pillar Range. This was the beginning of an increasing level of involvement by Reserves Rangers in the identification/management of conservation values and public access on South Island Pastoral Leases. This led to a role overseeing the Protected Natural Areas Programme Survey of Ecological Districts in the Otago/Southland High Country.

Post 1987, I was appointed to a new role as Principal Conservation Officer, Ecological Management for Otago/Southland Region of DOC. From 1989 to 1998, I was working extensively off the DOC estate as Manager Protected Natural Areas Programme for Otago/Southland. This role morphed into the High Country Tenure Review Manager, Otago/Southland until 2013. Until retirement in 2014 I was the National Tenure Review Manager for DOC covering the full extent of the South Island High Country.