Diane Campbell-Hunt (56), to some the ''mother'' of Orokonui Ecosanctuary, near Dunedin, died after being swept away as she tried to cross a swollen stream while tramping in Egmont National Park in 2008.
She was two-thirds of the way through her PhD into the long-term sustainability of fenced wildlife sanctuaries in New Zealand, funded by a Tertiary Education Commission top achiever doctoral scholarship.
She left a 250,000-word database of interviews and research which Prof Campbell-Hunt decided needed to be finished.
''I know it would have been Diane's wish. It's been a wonderful project for me, as I've continued to share the life of Diane and being part of this venture here [Orokonui].''
In September, the University of Otago Press will publish Ecosanctuaries with the author listed as ''Diane Campbell-Hunt with Colin Campbell Hunt''.
''I'm very glad it fulfills what she wanted to do. It feels good.''
It was not the easiest task. It took five years as Prof Campbell-Hunt juggled his work at Otago University's business school and the parenting of six children.
''It took a long time to understand, but in the process I've learned a lot and I think a lot of her work will be very useful to the [ecosanctuary] movement.''
Mrs Campbell-Hunt, who had carried out a feasibility study into the Orokonui Ecosanctuary before becoming its project manager for three years and then trust secretary, had written a book about the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary (now Zealandia) in Wellington before moving to Dunedin in 2003.
This work had inspired her to take up the PhD and Prof Campbell-Hunt said he had drawn the research together to try to find the answers she was looking for in her study of five ecosanctuaries.
The finding was ecosanctuaries needed to have a sustainable economic model, sustainable community support and sustainable ecology.
''Nobody's cracked it yet.''
Prof Campbell-Hunt will speak about the work at the Otago Natural History Trust's annual meeting on Thursday night at Otago Museum.
