Dr Mike Floate, of Tarras, has been involved with conservation and mountain-eering in Central Otago for more than 20 years.
Since the mid-1990s, he has been involved in and helped establish the Otago Gold-fields Heritage Trust, which was formed to develop and promote historical sites, trails, and events in Otago.
Dr Floate served as president of the trust and was involved in a number of projects, including the installation of interpretation panels and restoration of the Come-in-Time Battery in the Bendigo conservation area.
He was involved in conservation as a member of the Otago Conservation Board, the Upper Clutha Branch Committee of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, and the Guardians of Lake Wanaka for 10 years until 2005.
An active member of the Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club since 1983, Dr Floate has served as a chief guide and president.
He was also been a member of the Dunedin Mountain Safety Committee, the Wanaka Mountain Safety Committee and of Federated Mountain Clubs, where he undertakes inspections on behalf of the organisation.
