Remembering Peter Oliver

Friday 31 Jan 2025

 
It is with great sadness we share the news that Peter Oliver passed away on Wednesday 22 January 2025, aged 62, following a relatively short illness.

Our deepest condolences go out to Peter’s family – his wife Agnes, son Thomas, daughter Lauren and his four grandchildren.

Peter was highly regarded by many in forestry, with a distinguished career spanning 40-odd years. He started his path in forestry as a fresh-faced trainee in the 1980s and devoted the last 24 years of his working career at City Forests.

His colleagues describe his work ethic as being second to none.

A staunch promoter of forestry as a land use, Peter became a fierce advocate for the benefits forestry generates for the community and the environment – ever watchful against local authorities and central Government, ensuring all parties had their facts straight.

Peter’s national influence, his connections and commitment to supporting the wider forest growing sector over the years have been substantial; particularly his work on the Forest Owners Association research and environment committees. Peter was also well known for supporting young and up-and-coming foresters in their own careers, with many remarking on his patience and the value in having an experienced forester like Peter at their side.

His contributions to forestry, as well as his skillset as an accomplished technical forester, were recognised last year when Peter was made a fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry. During his retirement speech in Dunedin last September, Peter said given the choice to turn back time, he’d make the same choices again and couldn’t think of a better career to work in than forestry.

Despite his quiet demeanour, Peter was fiercely passionate, kind and knowledgeable from his first day to his last. He will be sorely missed by his colleagues at City Forests and leaves an enduring legacy that will be recognised by forest growers nationwide in the years to come.

Should anyone wish to make a gesture in Peter’s honour, his family suggest donations to Glioblastoma research and Otago Community Hospice would be a worthy and fitting cause.

Donations to both Glioblastoma Research and Otago Community Hospice can be made in Peter's memory by noting his full name in the 'donation notes' or 'donation in memoriam of' fields of the donation process. 

A link to his service is also available.

Source: NZFOA


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