The Crombies

Derek and Gillian Crombie lived in Dunedin and Mosgiel until 1991 when they moved to Christchurch, but they have had a holiday home at Lake Hawea for 36 years.

Mr Crombie is chief executive of Central Plains Water Ltd and Mrs Crombie is a part-time chartered accountant and treasurer of the New Zealand Alpine Club.

The family are regular users of the Mt Aspiring National Park and Mrs Crombie said her three daughters and four grandchildren considered the Matukituki Valley had ‘‘something for everyone''.

There were day walks to the Rob Roy Glacier or Aspiring Hut, overnight stays at Aspiring Hut, multi-day tramping up the valley or over saddles, and then climbing peaks such as Mt Aspiring.

In 2013, along with Mark Pizey, the Crombies formed the Matukituki Charitable Trust to protect native bird populations, primarily in the upper reaches of the West Matukituki Valley.