The work of a Wānaka man who shaped southern public spaces will be recognised on Sunday with an award from the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (RNZIH).
Gordon Bailey is being honoured with a RNZIH Associate of Honour for his work in many fields, including serving as parks manager for the Central Otago, Queenstown Lakes and Gore district councils.
The former Gore man holds the Ian Galloway trophy for his work with public gardens and is a RNZIH Fellow.
As long-serving chairman of the Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust, Mr Bailey has also has a leading role in developing an internationally significant rhododendron conservation strategy, centred on Pukeiti, in Taranaki and was recently awarded life membership of the trust.
He has visited China six times to study rhododendrons in the wild and collect seeds.
His involvement in the horticultural industry’s training organisation and the Otago Conservation Board reflected Mr Bailey’s decades of commitment to mentoring others and advocating for the environment.
In his Wānaka garden, he has a large collection of peonies and trilliums.
