NZMSS Award

This highly prestigious award was inaugurated in 1985. The award is presented to a person who, in the opinion of the NZMSS Council, has participated in the activities of the Society, has represented the interests of the Society, and has been instrumental in the Society achieving its objective of the advancement of marine science in New Zealand. The award recognises “a person’s continued outstanding contribution to marine science in New Zealand”.

The award is a bronze sculpture in the form of the internal spire of a gastropod shell. It was designed and manufactured by Wellington artist Nick Dryden, and comes with an engraved plaque. The award carries with it lifetime membership of the Society. In accepting the Award the recipient agrees to continue promoting marine science in New Zealand by giving two or more public lectures on a topic of their own choosing.NZMSS awards are presented to individuals in recognition of their continued and outstanding contribution to marine science in New Zealand. Well done!

Recipients of the award are chosen by the Council from nominations that can be submitted by any member of the Society. Nominations are considered annually but the Council need not present an award each year. The three awards bestowed in the inaugural year, on scientists considered to be “founders of marine science in New Zealand”, honoured work on ocean physics, marine geology and marine ecology. The subsequent 15 recipients to date have made their contributions across an equally broad spectrum of marine science endeavour.

Year	Recipient	Conference Venue (University, except where specified)
1985	Jim, Brodie, George Knox, Norm Barber	Canterbury
1986	Howard Choat	Victoria
1987	- no award -	Otago
1988	John Morton	Auckland
1989	- no award -	Wellington (National Museum)
1990	Pat Bergquist	Waikato
1991	Ron Heath	Wellington (National Museum)
1992	- no nominations -	Otago
1993	- no nominations -	Nelson (Quality Hotel)
1994	Janet Grieve	Waikato
1995	Vivienne Cassie-Cooper	Victoria
1996	Chris Francis	Canterbury
1997	John Jillett	Auckland (joint with AMSA*)
1998	- no award -	Otago
1999	Lionel Carter	Victoria
2000	Bob Creese	Waikato
2001	Bruce Hayward	Townsville (joint with AMSA*)
2002	Bill Ballantine	Nelson (Rutherford Hotel)
2003	Dave Schiel	Auckland and AUT
2004	- no award -	Otago
2005	Dennis Gordon	Victoria
2006	- no award -	Nelson (Rutherford Hotel)
2007	Wendy Nelson	Waikato

* Australian Marine Sciences Society

Nomination Procedure

Any Society member can make a nomination (in writing) to the Secretary. The nomination need only be a short statement but it should concisely specify the major achievements of the nominee that would make them a worthy recipient of the award. The Council may seek further information about the nominee. The Council will choose the recipient from the nominations, and all nominations remain confidential to the Council. The award is presented at the NZMSS annual conference. The award need not be given every year.