Interview with a Local Scientist
By Fergus Lloyd | Posted: Wednesday September 3, 2025
Working towards his Science badge, Year 9 student Fergus Lloyd interviewed his father, Dr Kelvin Lloyd, after he was honoured with Forest & Bird’s prestigious Old Blue Award.
Leading New Zealand ecologist and botanist Dr Kelvin Lloyd has been awarded Forest & Bird’s prestigious Old Blue Award for his outstanding work protecting and enhancing New Zealand’s natural treasures.
Kelvin currently holds a family membership with Forest & Bird, and in earlier years he was chair of the Dunedin branch of the organisation. He has provided expert evidence for Forest & Bird and other conservation organisations in court cases that have resulted in important wins for nature.
He also played an important role in the establishment of the Orokonui Ecosanctuary near Ōtepoti Dunedin and its halo project, which expands protection to neighbouring properties. He has also given up large amounts of time volunteering for other conservation-related organisations.
“For several decades, Dr Kelvin Lloyd has played an immense role in New Zealand conservation,” says Forest & Bird’s Canterbury and West Coast Regional Conservation Manager, Nicky Snoyink.
“Kelvin’s expertise and knowledge of New Zealand’s native botany, especially rare species, is a major asset to the country.”
Beginning work with Wildland Consultants in 2004, he quickly became a valuable source of expert evidence.
Among the successful outcomes he helped achieve was prioritising wilding conifer control sites for the Ministry of Primary Industries, which led to $16 million being allocated for wilding pine control. His expert evidence also contributed to improving protection for wetlands on the West Coast.
His knowledge of wetlands and botany has been very valuable to Forest & Bird in the Environment Court and other forums.
His evidence was pivotal in the Environment Court’s decision to turn down the proposal for a mine at Te Kuha on the West Coast. He also provided evidence against the land swap for the Ruataniwha Dam in Hawke’s Bay, and Forest & Bird eventually won its case in the Supreme Court.
Kelvin recalls that his conservation work began with trips to the Catlins with distinguished botanist Sir Alan Mark to plant trees, and he was involved in the Dunedin branch’s project to tackle wilding pines across Otago.
A keen tramper, he was also a member of the national executive of Federated Mountain Clubs for five years and a trustee of the Otago Natural History Trust for 15 years, during the period when the trust’s Orokonui Ecosanctuary proposal was developed and turned into reality.
Kelvin and his family live on a lifestyle block north of Ōtepoti Dunedin, and they own a small farm nearby where they have covenanted about 30 hectares of native forest. Kelvin says they have planted thousands of native trees on the farm, fenced off a wetland, and filled it with harakeke flax.
Nicky Snoyink says Kelvin has always been generous in sharing his knowledge and treats others with kindness and respect.
“His experience, enthusiasm, reliability, and communication skills make him a stand-out amongst botanists in New Zealand,” Ms Snoyink says.
“As a science communicator, Kelvin has mastered the art of taking complex scientific information and making it accessible to everyone.”
