Memorial Awards
The Project Tongariro Memorial Award was established by the society in memory of Keith Maurice Blumhardt, William Edward Cooper, Douglas Neal McKenzie, Derek Ian White and Marie Pauline Williams, who died on Mt Ruapehu while testing helicopter rescue equipment on 9 December 1982.
The award is open to any applicant for study – for fauna, flora, geology, volcanology, weather and natural and human history of Tongariro National Park.
Since the inaugural award in 1991, 35 young researchers have benefited from these awards enabling a wide range of research to be done in the Park. From heather, to bats, skinks, kiwi, stoats, to visitor stats, to geology, to lahars, to botany and climate. An amazing legacy.
The amount shall be determined annually by the executive (originally up to $1000 but since 2002, up to $2000 as long as the society is in a position to fund the awards). Applications for the Awards are accepted up until the end of June each year and are considered at the first executive committee meeting of the new financial year (usually in July/August). The society’s executive seeks independent advice from a representative with an overview of science in the Turangi/Tongariro Conservancy (Dr Harry Keys has assisted with this review since the awards began and continues to do so). Applicants will be advised of the executive committees' decision by August 31st and the awards are announced publically at the annual DOC Conservation Awards.
Recipients of awards are required to provide a photo and short resume suitable for publication by the society. Recipients are asked to acknowledge the society where possible in for example a research publication such as a thesis. All recipients agree to send a copy of their work, including a thesis, to TNHS and are encouraged to contribute a short article for the annual Tongariro Journal.
Note if no applicants meet the required standards in a particular year, an award will not be made.
Please contact Project Tongariro on info@tongariro.org.nz for more info and to apply.
| Project Tongariro Meomorial Award Recipients | |||
| No | Year | Recipient | Research |
| 1 | 1991 | Catherine Foster | Heather |
| 2 | 1992 | Mark Horricks | Palynology (pollen samples) of Gibson's Swamp |
| 3 | 1992 | Mathew Ward | Investigating visitors' perceptions of crowding in Tongariro National Park |
| 4 | 1992 | Xiang Limin | Plant climate Panautea |
| 5 | 1994 | Charlotte Severne | Geothermal investigations Tongariro - Waihi |
| 6 | 1994 | Suzan Dopson | Mistletoe |
| 7 | 1995 | Shane Cronin - Massey University | Volcanic stratigraphy in the north east sector of Tongariro National Park |
| 8 | 1995 | Nick Monteith - Auckland University | Studying glacial history of Mt Tongariro and Mt Ruapehu |
| 9 | 1996 | Vivienne Nichols | Mangaturuturu lahars - from the study of beech stands |
| 10 | 1997 | Ross Martin | Kiwi-Stoat control research |
| 11 | 1998 | Anna Grant | Post-release behaviour of captive-reared Kiwi |
| 12 | 1998 | Gillian Rapson | Forest-grassland dynamics, Mangaeheuheu Basin |
| 13 & 14 | 1999 | Michelle Prinscep & Paul Broady - Waikato University | Study of Chemistry/Bacteria in Tongariro National Park waterways |
| 15 | 1999 | Amy Trass | Study of forest restoration in the Park (Fruit dispersal & forest regeneration on the volcanic plateau) |
| 16 | 2000 | Ross Martin | Stoat Behaviour |
| 17 | 2000 | Tristram Hayles | The geology of the summit area, Ruapehu |
| 18 | 2001 | Ben Miller | The physical volcanology, petrology and geochemistry of the Wahianoa Valley, SE Ruapehu |
| 19 | 2001 | Gillian Lockett - Victoria Univesity | The geology, volcanology and petrology of a pyroclastic fall deposit, Rangataua Member, South Ruapehu |
| 20 | 2002 | Joanna Meys | Dactyllanthus Taylorii |
| 21 | 2002 | Joanne Chizmar | Volcanology of Tama Lakes |
| 22 | 2003 | Elizabeth Grove | Melicytus aff. Aplinus 'Rangipo' |
| 23 | 2003 | Candice Bardsley | Physical volcanology of Red Crater |
| 24 | 2004 | Ruth Basher | Physical volcanology of Te Maari Craters |
| 25 | 2004 | Jessica Wallace | Vertical flight activity of short-tailed bats(Mystacina tuberculata) within beech and podocarp forests |
| 26 | 2005 | Tom Paulin | Contemporary glacial retreat on Ruapehu |
| 27 | 2005 | Maureen Coomber | Public perception re volcanic hazards on Tongariro Crossing |
| 28 | 2005 | Elizabeth Liggins | Phylogeography of common NZ skink |
| 29 | 2006 | Anja Mobis | The physical volcanology and hazards of pyroclastic eruptions from the Tongariro Volcanic Centre |
| 30 | 2006 | Sascha Brocks | Fantail breeding success after rodent control in the Karioi Rahui - a cost effective monitoring tool |
| 31 | 2007 | Michael Dann | A revision of the native ant species Monomorium antarcticum |
| 32 | 2008 | Terry Blumhardt | UK Search and Rescue methods to be used in Tongariro. Attended international SAR conference in Scotland |
| 33 | 2009 | Natalia Pardo - Institute of Natural Resources Massey University | Physical volcanology of Mt Ruapehu and Mt Tongariro (understanding the physical controls of large scale explosive eruptions) |
| 34 | 2010 | Emma Phillips | Forecasting the consequences of the failure of the eastern rim of Crater Lake, Ruapehu |
| 35 | 2010 | Moniqua Nelson-Tunley | Investigating the genetic dynamics of the small-scaled skink |
| 36 | 2011 | Kirsty Myron | Pittosporum kirkii: autecology and conservation of an endemic epiphytic shrub |
| 37 | 2011 | Yvonne Taura | Rresearch on the effects of willow and willow control on the wetland aquatic invertebrates |
| 38 | 2012 | James Cowlyn | The significance of the Volcanic Phenomena; Pyroclastic Flows |
| 39 | 2012 | Shaun Eves | The Timing of Past Glaciation in Tongariro National Park |
| 40 | 2012 | Jessie Prebble | The Taxonomy of the rare tag-named entity, Myosotis aff. pygmaea “Volcanic Plateau” |
| 41 | 2012 | Erin Hill | Psychological and Health Benefits for Users of Tongariro National Park |
