News

Awhitu Peninsula Landcare members were saddened by the recent death of Paul Dixon - a loss to his family, our community, Landcare, and the many other local groups and organisations which had benefitted from Paul’s positive energy and enthusiasm.

Paul was born and grew up in Waikanae, into a family culture of the outdoors-scouting, tramping, camping, fishing and hunting.  Paul’s lifelong love of the natural environment developed into an active interest in assisting the protection and enhancement of New Zealand’s bush and wildlife.

Paul and his wife, Sue Johns, settled into their home at Orua Bay in 1999;  diverse  community groups benefitted from the energy and enthusiasm they brought to bear. Paul’s working life began at NZBC, writing dialogue for radio plays, then moved into wordsmithing in the advertising industry. Paul was a founding driver/supporter of the book and film clubs, a keen local historian, and enthusiast for the Awhitu Lighthouse, becoming a pivotal person in developing this into a premier tourist attraction for the district. A great partnership with the Lighthouse Trust and Landcare was established, with Landcare undertaking the very successful, ongoing revegetation planting of the Lighthouse surrounds.

Paul was a welcome, positive presence at Landcare meetings for several years, with a memorable contribution to the New Zealand Steel sponsored Environmental Awards.

The last of these awards, co-ordinated by Paul and Sue, was an Eco-Hero promotion, which attracted huge crowds to the Awhitu Regional Park for the presentations. Paul devised and was the inaugural editor of the Landcare Newsletter – ‘Enviro News’, a vehicle for the stories of Landcare projects, and a great educational tool, particularly for pest control techniques. Paul continued to do a possum bait station run in the Orua Bay area, accompanied by his top rabbiting buddy, Toru the foxie, until the disease which claimed his life finally stole his energy.

The premature death of Paul is a loss to Sue, his extended family, and our Peninsula community - he will be greatly missed.  Awhitu Landcare members will be out in force to attend the celebration of Paul’s life, to be held in February, 2015, when members of his extended family who live overseas will be able to be present.