Lifelong coastal champions honoured with national award

Chris and Jayne Ward have spent decades restoring the Bay of Plenty’s coastline – and now their dedication has been recognised with one of Aotearoa’s highest honours for coastal restoration.

The Wards were recently presented with the Pīngao and Toheroa Trophy by the Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand. This prestigious award is not given annually, but only when individuals of exceptional calibre are identified. 

To mark the occasion, a small celebration was held at one of their favourite restoration sites – Te Tumu Kaituna 7B2 block, nestled between Pāpāmoa Beach and the Kaituna River. The group gathered to plant Pimelea villosa (sand daphne) – a rare and threatened native shrub – within a specially protected dune area, enclosed by a rabbit-proof fence.

Te Tumu Kaituna 7B2 falls within a designated Priority Biodiversity Site, home to a range of rare and threatened native species including katipō spiders, shore skinks and native plants such as spinifex, pīngao and Poa billardierei (sand tussock).  The area also holds deep cultural significance, with Māori middens still visible in the dunes. Priority Biodiversity Sites are recognised for their high ecological value and play a critical role in protecting Aotearoa’s unique biodiversity. 

When the Wards first began their work at Te Tumu Kaituna 7B2, rabbits were causing widespread damage to the fragile dune environment. The installation of a rabbit-proof fence in 2011 strengthened restoration efforts, allowing native species to be protected and re-established.

“This place is really special,” says Mr Ward, as he looks out across the dunes.
“We’ve watched it go from rabbit-ravaged to a thriving ecosystem. Seeing these species come back gives us real hope.”

The Wards began volunteering in the early 1990s, driven by their shared passion for horticulture. In 2011, they became restoration coordinators for Coast Care Bay of Plenty – just months before the Rena oil spill devastated parts of the region’s coastline. Since then, they’ve led hundreds of planting days, worked with thousands of school students to inspire and educate them about coastal restoration, and played an important role in replanting dunes to protect the coast from storm surges.

Thanks to their work, many rare native plants are building back along the coastline. Jo Bonner from Coastlands Nursery recalls that before the Wards began their restoration efforts, only three remnant populations of sand daphne remained in Pāpāmoa. The Wards have also helped bolster the population of Poa billardierei in the region as they collected seeds from one of the last remaining plants many years ago. 
“The poa plants we propagate in the nursery today have come from the seeds originally collected by Chris and Jayne”, says Ms Bonner.

Although officially retired from their Coast Care roles, the Wards continue to volunteer at planting days, generously sharing their knowledge and passion to help ensure the next generation can enjoy and care for these special places.

Coast Care Regional Coordinator Russell Knutson says Chris and Jayne truly embody the spirit of Coast Care.

“They represent everything Coast Care stands for – long-term commitment, community leadership and a deep respect for our coastal environment 

“They’ve inspired hundreds of volunteers and their legacy will be felt along the Bay of Plenty coastline for generations,” says Mr Knutson.

After decades of hands-on work, the Wards remain deeply connected to the dunes they’ve helped restore.
“We just love being out here. It’s pretty cool to see all these rare species growing and know they’ve got a future,” says Mr Ward.

As recipients of the Pīngao and Toheroa Trophy, the Chris and Jayne have also been made honorary members of the Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand.