Sir Alan Mark

Emeritus Professor Sir Alan Mark is one of New Zealand’s most respected environmental science and conservation leaders.

The plant ecologist, botanist, environmentalist, and New Zealand’s first recipient of knighthood for services to conservation, has devoted decades to research, advocacy and leadership in the protection of some of Aotearoa’s most unique natural landscapes.

Born and raised in Dunedin, Sir Alan  has been front and center of campaigns to conserve natural habitats such as the lakeshores of Manapouri and Te Anau, and the South Island high country.

He recalls his many campaigns and projects with vivid clarity, noting that public trust has always been the cornerstone of his approach.

“I think the most important thing is to take the public into your confidence and explain the situation in simple but scientifically sound terms.”

Lake Manapouri and Te Anau in Southland, for example could have looked much different had it not been for Sir Alan’s scientific work in the 1960s which helped demonstrate the environmental damage that would occur if the lake’s level was raised for a proposed hydroelectric scheme.

The movement challenged the proposal to raise Lake Manapouri by at least 24 meters and merge with Te Anau, and between 1969 and 1972,  Sir Alan played a key role in providing scientific research which demonstrated the effects this would have on the natural ecosystems.

The campaign culminated in a petition which garnered 260,000 signatures.

“That was a very substantial record at the time. I think that was on the basis that I made sure the public was aware that the cost of raising the lake in environmental terms was very, very high, and the benefits were limited… my most satisfying result of all my efforts, I think, is to have seen the increase in public awareness of managing environment and conservation issues on sound scientific basis,” he explains.

Sir Alan was born in Dunedin in 1932, and as outlined in his autobiography ‘Standing My Ground; A voice for nature conservation’, his formative years saw much time camping in various parts of the southern South Island, particularly on farmland in the Catlins with his parents and sister.

He attended Mornington School and went on to study botany, zoology and chemistry at Otago University, eventually landing on plant ecology alongside his wife-to-be Patricia Davie before venturing to America as a Fullbright fellow to study for his PhD.

The book is an inspiring reminder of the power of individuals to make a difference, as Sir Alan has done on numerous occasions throughout his lifetime.

He recalls certain moments in his campaigns as if they were only yesterday.

“In 1972 there was a change of government, a massive swing to labour. Norman Kirk was the prime minister and he contacted me to see if we’d be willing to substantiate a claim to retain the natural lake levels. I said I certainly would”.

This was followed by the establishment of the Guardians of Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau, a group appointed to provide a direct link between the public and the Minister of Conservation.

“There were six of us set up as guardians to advise government on managing both Te Anau and Manapouri that in the use of the lakes for hydroelectric generation, there would be no damage to the lake shores,” he explains.

Having seen the nearby Lake Monowai raised already, Sir Alan had a solid foundation of what the fate could have been for Lake Manapouri and Te Anau.

“Monowoi had been spoiled by raising it only 2.6 meters back int he 1920s. And it’s surrounded by a circle of dead trees, which is a real eyesore,” he says.

Sir Alan went on to chair the Guardians of Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau for 26 years, and says his studies of the shorelines of Manapouri and Te Anau were the most extensive.

Science has always been at the forefront of his efforts, followed by a careful approach to communicating the potential outcomes for any activity altering New Zealand’s natural landscapes.

He has received many awards in recognition of his work, including being appointed knight companion of the NZ Order of Merit in 2009. He is a Forest & Bird Conservation Ambassador, and was it’s president between 1987 and 1990.

His achievements have been celebrated through major scientific and conservation awards, including the Hutton Medal, Charles Flemming Award, and the Loder Cup for promotion of conservation of New Zealand flora.

Another key research area of Sir Alan’s have been in the tussock grasslands of the South Island high country, and he has held various roles for the Miss E.L.Hellaby Indigenous Grassland Research Trust, an organisation established to support research on native grasses and grasslands.

He says tussock grasses are as important a heritage factor for us in New Zealand as our tall forests and high mountains, and his research has contributed significantly to an increased recognition of these grasslands into New Zealand’s conservation systems.

Other books authored by Sir Alan include  ‘Above the Treeline; A nature guide to alpine in New Zealand, which features an extensive encyclopedia of plants, ferns, mosses, lichens, birds, lizards, and invertebrates which reside in our mountains.

Sir Alan has never shied away from doing what’s right, and to this day continues to advocate for the  natural environment.

“My most satisfying result of all my effort is to see the increase in public awareness. I think there’s much more emphasis on the education of the younger generation to make them aware of the importance of the environment and conservation issues in natural ecosystems,”

He’s also aware of paying tribute to the key figures that have supported efforts of the Guardians.

“Dr John Moore or Nelson, the only other original Guardian still living, and I, have recommended to the NZ Geographic Board, that they name an appropriate Fiordland peak that overlooks Lake Manapouri, in honor of the late PM, the Hon Normal Kirk, in recognition of his critical role in ‘saving’ the Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau,” he says.

If it receives wider support, an announcement is set to be made in 2026.

Sir Alan is also working with Dr John to oppose the potential lowering of the level of Lake Te Anau, believing it will cause widespread and permanent damage to much of the lakeshore’.

He continues to be an enduring influence, participating in public discussions and advocating for action on climate change and environmental protection.

Sir Alan’s life’s work shows science, courage and public trust can protect the natural world for generations to come.