Jim Lynch (conservationist)

Jim Lynch
Lynch in 2020
Born
James Robert Lynch

(1947-09-11) 11 September 1947 (age 77)
Whangārei, New Zealand
Occupations
  • Cartoonist
  • conservationist
Known forFounder of Zealandia

James Robert Lynch QSM (born 11 September 1947) is a New Zealand cartoonist and conservationist.

Biography

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Lynch was born in 1947 in Whangārei. He grew up on a farm in Hūkerenui.[1]

His first cartoons were published in the Taranaki Daily News in 1979 (appearing weekly until 1986) and he produced fortnightly cartoons for the New Zealand Times from 1981 to 1985.[2] He was the runner-up in the New Zealand Cartoonist of the Year category at the Qantas Press Awards in 1983.[2] Lynch's cartoons appeared under the name 'James' because "I didn't want to go to my boss and ask if I could have secondary employment as a political cartoonist".[3]

Lynch is possibly better known as a conservationist and founder of eco-sanctuary Zealandia in Wellington.[4][5] He wrote a book Zealandia: the valley that changed a nation which told the story of the creation of Zealandia.[6][7] He was the President of the Wellington Branch of Forest and Bird from 1991.[2]

In 2022, Lynch was commissioned by Wellington Regional Council to produce a feasibility study of establishing a wildlife sanctuary in the Wainuiomata Water Collection Area. The study found that the project was "technically and practically feasible". The name given to the proposed sanctuary is Puketahā.[8]

Honours and awards

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In the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours, Lynch was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for community service.[9][10]

Publications

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  • Lynch, Jim (2019). Zealandia: the valley that changed a nation. Waikanae: Kotare Publications. ISBN 978-0-473-49011-9.

References

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  1. ^ "James Lynch QSM". James Lynch. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Lynch, James Robert, 1947-". tiaki.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  3. ^ Haxton, David. "Jim Lynch – the man behind the James cartoons". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  4. ^ Prestwood, Sarah (14 October 2000). "Call of the wild". Dominion: 20.
  5. ^ "A World-First Sanctuary". www.visitzealandia.com. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  6. ^ "The story of Zealandia is told by its founder". Wellington City Council. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  7. ^ "The story of Zealandia". RNZ. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  8. ^ Vance, Andrea (28 March 2022). "Proposed eco-sanctuary could boost the population of up to 30 native species". Stuff. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  9. ^ "James Robert Lynch | New Zealand Cartoon Archive". www.cartoons.org.nz. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2001". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
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