Rob Fenwick

{{Infobox person

| name = Sir Robert Fenwick

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|KNZM|KStJ|size=100%}}

| image = Sir Robert Fenwick, 2016 NZer of the Year Finalist.jpg

| alt = Fenwick in 2016

| caption =

|birth_name=Robert George Mappin Fenwick

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1951|05|05|df=y}}

| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|03|11|1951|05|05|df=y}}

| occupation = Businessman

| known_for = Sustainable business development, Antarctic preservation, New Zealand conservation

| relatives = Frank Mappin (grandfather)
{{nowrap|George Fenwick (great-grandfather)}}

}}

Sir Robert George Mappin Fenwick {{post-nominals|country=NZL|KNZM|KStJ|size=85%}} (5 May 1951 – 11 March 2020) was a New Zealand environmentalist, businessman and professional director.

Fenwick co-founded the organic composting service Living Earth Ltd, the NZ Natural bottled water brand and Te Matuku Oysters{{Cite web|url=https://www.tematukuoysters.co.nz/our-story/|title=Our Story {{!}} Te Matuku Oysters|website=www.tematukuoysters.co.nz|language=en-US|access-date=2018-06-02|archive-date=16 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190316232055/http://www.tematukuoysters.co.nz/our-story/|url-status=dead}} and held a number of board and advisory panel positions. His conservation and sustainability work included leadership roles in the Predator Free 2050 movement, co-founding the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development and several leadership roles in Antarctica.{{Cite web |url= http://nzawards.org.nz/news/rob-fenwick-new-zealander-year-finalist/|title=Rob Fenwick – New Zealander of the Year Finalist |website=nzawards.org.nz |access-date=18 October 2017}}

Fenwick was knighted in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours for "significant contributions to New Zealand’s sustainable development, wildlife protection, waste minimisation, environmental science and Antarctica, and iwi development over the past 30 years".{{Cite web|url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/queens-90th-birthday-honours-list-2016-citations-knight-companions-new-zealand-order-merit|title=The Queen's 90th Birthday Honours List 2016 – Citations for Knight Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit|website=The Queen's 90th Birthday Honours List 2016 – Citations for Knight Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit|language=en-NZ|access-date=18 October 2017}} A year earlier, Fenwick received the 2015 Blake Medal, with the Sir Peter Blake Trust acknowledging him as "New Zealand's foremost statesman of sustainability and the environment, and an exceptional leader and motivator in business and governance".{{Cite web|url=http://sirpeterblaketrust.org/posts/2016/2/5/rob-fenwick|title=Sir Peter Blake Trust|website=sirpeterblaketrust.org|language=en|access-date=18 October 2017}} Fenwick was a finalist for the 2016 New Zealander of the Year Award and was inducted to the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/79848478/nz-business-hall-of-fame-rob-fenwick-qa|title=NZ Business Hall of Fame: Rob Fenwick Q&A|website=Stuff |access-date=18 October 2017}}

Early life and family history

Fenwick was raised in Auckland, New Zealand, son of ophthalmologist George de Lacy Fenwick (died 1994), MD,International Biography and Bibliography of Ophthalmologists and Vision Scientists, Part I: A- K, ed. Jean-Paul Wayenborgh, 2001, p. 239 (son of ophthalmologist George Ernest Oswald Fenwick (1878–1955) OBE)[https://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk/client/en_GB/lives/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ASSET$002f0$002fSD_ASSET:377547/one?qu=%22rcs%3A+E005364%22&rt=false%7C%7C%7CIDENTIFIER%7C%7C%7CResource+Identifier Fenwick, George Ernest Oswald (1878–1955)]Eye Surgeons and Surgery in New Zealand, Dr Bruce Hadden, Random House, 2012, Chapter 5- Auckland: The Entrepreneurs and Ethel Thorpe, daughter of philanthropist Sir Frank Crossley Mappin (6th baronet).Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage, 145th edition, ed. Patrick Montague-Smith, Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 2008, p. 630 His great-grandfather was the newspaper proprietor and editor Sir George Fenwick.{{Cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=222485 |title=Rob Fenwick: Giving Earth |date=12 October 2001 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=18 October 2017 |language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}}{{Cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11445573 |title=Michele Hewitson interview: Rob Fenwick|date=8 May 2015 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=18 October 2017|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}} Fenwick attended King's College.{{Cite web|url=http://kcoca.co.nz/nz/kingscollege/ocd.aspx?action=check_bulletin&code=&bulletin_name=news&remote=on&mess_no=8_1244176311&reminder=0|title=KCOCA Old Collegians'|website=Potentiality Online Communities|access-date=18 October 2017}}

= Arms =

Fenwick was granted armorial bearings from the Royal College of Arms in 2008.

class="wikitable sortable"

!File:The Armorial Bearings of Sir Robert George Mappin Fenwick.jpg

!Notes

Arms were granted to Sir Frederick Thorpe Mappin Bt on 23 August 1886; and Arms were also granted to Sir George Fenwick on 27 April 1921.

Blazon

Quarterly first and fourth Fenwick, namely Per fess dancetty Argent and Gules in chief three Martlets Sable; second and third Mappin, namely Azure on a Bend engrailed between two Boar's heads erased Argent three Lozenges Azure. The Crest of Fenwick is Upon a Wreath of the Colours In front of a Phoenix Sable rising from Flames proper four Mullets Argent.

Career

Fenwick began his career as a journalist with the Auckland Star and Radio Hauraki before co-founding the Public Relations firm Allan, Fenwick, McCully.{{Cite web|url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/television-new-zealand-and-transmission-holdings-ltd-boards-appointed|title=Television New Zealand and Transmission Holdings Ltd boards appointed|website=The Beehive|language=en-nz|access-date=18 October 2017}} In 1987, Fenwick co-founded NZ Natural Water Ltd, bottling New Zealand water for export. Fenwick (and partners) established Living Earth Ltd in 1994, New Zealand's first commercial organic waste to compost operation and responsible for diverting 1 million tonnes of waste from landfills for re-use as compost (as of 2010).{{Cite web|url=https://www.livingearth.co.nz/our-story|title=Living Earth – Our Story|website=www.livingearth.co.nz|access-date=18 October 2017}}

In 2000, Fenwick and wife Jennie founded Te Matuku oysters on their Waiheke Island property, situated in the Te Matuku marine reserve, of which Fenwick was an advocate in partnership with the NZ Forest & Bird Society.{{Cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=1293032 |title=Saving our shoreline |date=11 April 2002 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=18 October 2017|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}} The oysters are sustainably farmed, supplied to local restaurants and have won critical acclaim.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/country-calendar/2017-show-information/episode-31|title=Episode 31: Precious Bounty|last=TVNZ|website=TVNZ.co.nz}}

= Directorships and advisory roles =

In 1990, Fenwick commenced a series of consulting roles and professional directorships providing corporate strategy, government relations and communications advisory services to a range of organisations, generally focussing on sustainability and environment issues management. {{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

Notable positions include:

Chairman, Mai FM Media (1990–2001). A role Fenwick calls his proudest business success for promoting the Maori language.{{Cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11471851 |title=Medal-winner links eco values with economics |date=26 June 2015|work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=18 October 2017 |language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}}
Senior Fellow, NZ Institute of Directors (1995 – present){{Cite web|url=https://www.iod.org.nz/Branches-and-events/Branch-event/ProductId/4833|title=Branch event|website=www.iod.org.nz|language=en-NZ|access-date=18 October 2017}}
Deputy Chairman, TVNZ (2004–2010){{Cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10352808|title=Fraser quits TVNZ over 'meddling'|last=Trevett|first=Claire|date=30 October 2005|work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=18 October 2017|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}}
Chancellor, Order of St John NZ (2006–2008){{Cite web|url=https://www.stjohn.org.nz/globalassets/documents/publications/annual-report/annual_report_2007.pdf|title=2017 Annual Report|last=St John NZ}}
Chairman, Antarctica New Zealand (2008–2015){{Cite news|url=http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2015/09/rob-fenwicks-last-season-at-antarctica.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208070725/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2015/09/rob-fenwicks-last-season-at-antarctica.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 December 2017|title=Rob Fenwick's last season at Antarctica|date=26 September 2015|work=Newshub |access-date=18 October 2017}}
Director, Whai Rawa Ltd the commercial arm of Ngati Whatua o Orakei (2012 – present){{Cite news|url=https://issuu.com/orakei/docs/final_nga020_whai_rawa_ar_2015_v11|title=Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa Limited – Annual Report 2015|work=issuu|access-date=18 October 2017|language=en}}
Founder, Predator Free New Zealand Trust (2013). Trustee (2013 - 2019){{cite web |url=https://register.charities.govt.nz/CharitiesRegister/ViewCharity?accountId=f5b5408f-55d1-e211-afdf-00155d0d1916|title=Charities Register|publisher=Charities Services|access-date=2024-10-22}}
Member, Air NZ Sustainability Advisory Panel (2015–present){{Cite web|url=https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/advisory-panel|title=Sustainability Advisory Panel – Sustainability – About Air New Zealand {{!}} Air New Zealand|website=www.airnewzealand.co.nz|language=en|access-date=18 October 2017}}
Member, Westpac NZ Sustainability & Community Panel (2016–present){{Cite web|url=https://www.westpac.co.nz/who-we-are/sustainability-and-community/strategy-and-governance/governance/|title=Westpac New Zealand sustainability governance|website=www.westpac.co.nz|language=en|access-date=18 October 2017}}
Director, Te Papa Tongarewa (2016 – present){{Cite news|url=https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/about/what-we-do/leadership/board|title=Board|date=10 February 2016|work=Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, NZ|access-date=18 October 2017|language=en}}

Politics

Fenwick was appointed leader of the Progressive Green Party in 1996 and campaigned to create a Maritime Park in the Hauraki Gulf.

In 1998, he was a founding member of the BlueGreens, an environmental policy group within the New Zealand National Party.

Fenwick was involved in the development of New Zealand's waste minimisation strategy and campaigned for the enactment of the Waste Minimisation Act 2008. He was the inaugural chair of the Ministerial Waste Advisory Board, from 2008 to 2014.

Conservation, sustainability and humanity initiatives

Fenwick was highly regarded in New Zealand conservation. He was credited with inspiring the Predator Free New Zealand 2050 movement{{Cite news|url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@environment/2017/03/23/16408/sir-rob-fenwick-the-war-on-introduced-predators|title=Sir Rob Fenwick: The war on predators|date=23 March 2017|work=Newsroom|access-date=18 October 2017|language=en-AU}} and was chair of the Predator Free New Zealand Trust – an organisation committed to supporting volunteers involved in pest control. He chaired the Kiwi Trust, a group dedicated to protecting kiwi from extinction and sat on the board of Predator Free 2050 Ltd,{{Cite web |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/predator-free-2050-ltd-board-appointed |title=Predator Free 2050 Ltd board appointed|website=The Beehive |language=en-nz|access-date=18 October 2017}} the company overseeing Crown investment pertaining to Predator Free 2050 research and project support.

Fenwick undertook conservation efforts specific to his home town of Auckland, New Zealand. In 1992, he and others founded the Motutapu Island Restoration Trust{{Cite web |url= http://www.motutapu.org.nz/index.php/about-us/the-trust/who-are-we|title=Who Are We? |website=www.motutapu.org.nz |language=en-gb|access-date=18 October 2017}} and in 2008 the Fenwick family covenanted their 360 hectare coastal property to expand the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, of which Fenwick was a key proponent. A forested portion of the Fenwick property was also donated to the Auckland Council as a public walkway.{{Cite web |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/owner-adds-private-land-hauraki-gulf-marine-park|title=Owner adds private land to Hauraki Gulf Marine Park |website=The Beehive |language=en-nz |access-date=18 October 2017}}

From 1998 to 2007, Fenwick was director and chairman of the Crown Research Institute Landcare Research, during which time the institute developed the carboNZero emission certification program, of which he was later a director.{{Cite web|url=https://management.co.nz/article/execs-move-18|title=Exec's move|last=Management Magazine}} From 1997 he co-founded and later chaired the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development (later the Sustainable Business Council).{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/queens-birthday-honours-2016-sir-robert-fenwick-ng-189986|title=Queen's Birthday Honours 2016: Sir Robert Fenwick|date=6 June 2016|work=The National Business Review|access-date=18 October 2017|language=en}}

In 1997 Fenwick and businessman colleague John Beattie bought Queen Mary Hospital in Hanmer Springs after the local health authority wanted to close it.{{Cite news|last=MacDonald|first=Nikki|date=3 June 2006|title=The downfall of an institution|page=A10|work=Dominion Post}} Fenwick's motivation was because he had had a close family member treated at Queen Mary, which was a national residential treatment centre for alcoholism and addictions. While the hospital continued to receive government funding Fenwick and Beattie also hoped to attract private fee-paying patients from within New Zealand and overseas. They set up outpatient clinics in other cities and a company which offered addiction and alcoholism treatment programmes to corporate clients. The hospital continued to sustain financial losses going into liquidation and closing in 2003.

Fenwick's other notable conservation, sustainability and humanity work included:

Trustee, World Wildlife Fund New Zealand (1985–2005){{Cite web|url=http://airnzenvironmenttrust.org.nz/trustees/|title=Trustees » Air New Zealand Environment Trust|website=airnzenvironmenttrust.org.nz|access-date=18 October 2017}}
Trustee, Air New Zealand Environment Trust (2010–present)
Special advisor to the Director General, New Zealand Department of Conservation (2010–2015){{Cite news|url=https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/femwick-appointed-conservation-dept-role-124344|title=Fenwick appointed to Conservation Department role|date=9 June 2010|work=The National Business Review|access-date=18 October 2017|language=en}}
Chairman, Fred Hollows Foundation (2010–2014){{Cite web|url=https://www.hollows.org.nz/sites/default/files/pdfs/2011_Fred_Hollows_Annual%20Report.pdf|title=2011 Fred Hollows Annual Report}}
Trustee, Motu: Economic and Public Policy Research (2011–2015){{Cite web|url=https://motu.nz/about-us/people/rob-fenwick/|title=Rob Fenwick|website=Motu|language=en|access-date=18 October 2017}}
Board member, NEXT Foundation (2014–present){{Cite web|url=http://www.nextfoundation.org.nz/about|title=NEXT Foundation|website=NEXT Foundation|access-date=18 October 2017}}
Chairman, Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge (2015–present){{Cite web|url=http://sustainableseaschallenge.co.nz/board|title=Board|website=Sustainable seas|language=en|access-date=18 October 2017}}
Board member, Deep South National Science Challenge (2015–present){{Cite web|url=http://www.deepsouthchallenge.co.nz/governance-board-0|title=Governance Board|website=Deep south science challenge|language=en|access-date=18 October 2017}}

= Antarctica =

File:Sir Robert Fenwick, Antarctica.jpg

North & South Magazine wrote that “Rob Fenwick has had more impact on Antarctica than possibly any other New Zealander”.{{Cite web|url=http://www.noted.co.nz/currently/profiles/antarctica-s-unsung-hero/|title=Antarctica's Unsung Hero – North & South |website=Noted|language=en|access-date=18 October 2017}}

In 1993, Fenwick launched an international campaign to preserve the Scott and Shackleton Antarctic huts. He was later elected and served as chairman of the Antarctic Heritage Trust from 1996 to 2007. Following the completion of the project, Fenwick was invited to chair the board of Antarctica New Zealand. During his term the agency constructed wind powered turbines to supply energy to the New Zealand and US research stations and the Hillary Science Centre was completed at Scott Base.{{Cite web|url=http://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/2080-scott-base-anniversary-book-final.pdf|title=Scott Base Anniversary Book|last=Antarctica NZ}} In 2012 he established the privately funded Antarctic Research Institute – partnering with research agencies to expand climate change research on the continent.

The Fenwick Ice Piedmont was named in his honour by the New Zealand Geographic Board in acknowledgment of his efforts.{{Cite web|url=http://antarctica.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/44216|title=Rob Fenwick|website=Antarctica NZ|access-date=18 October 2017}}

Honours and awards

Knight of the Order of St John (2005){{Cite web|url=https://www.stjohn.org.nz/globalassets/documents/st-john-yearbook-2014.pdf|title=St John Yearbook 2014|last=St John NZ}}
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to conservation and the community, in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2008 |title=Queen's Birthday honours list 2008 |date=2 June 2008 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=1 February 2020}}
Honorary doctorate, Lincoln University (2009){{Cite web|url=http://alumnilinc.lincoln.ac.nz/page/HonDoc_medalists/Former-Honorary-Doctorate-Recipients.htm|title=Former Honorary Doctorate Recipients – Lincoln University Alumni & Development Office|website=alumnilinc.lincoln.ac.nz|access-date=18 October 2017}}
Sir Peter Blake medallist (2015)
Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit – for services to business and conservation (2016){{Cite web|url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/queens-90th-birthday-honours-list-2016-citations-knight-companions-new-zealand-order-merit|title=Queens 90th Birthday Honours List|last=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet|first=NZ Government}}
Finalist, New Zealander of the Year (2016)
Inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame (2016)
Winner, Kea World Class NZ Awards (2017)

Personal life

In 1974, Fenwick married firstly Juileen Adams; they had a daughter and, later, divorced in 1986. He married secondly Jennifer ("Jennie") Anne Beatty, a yoga teacher, with whom he had two more daughters. He and his family lived on Waiheke Island.{{Cite book|title=Legacies of a Young Land|last=Fenwick & Avery|publisher=Lasting Memories|year=2005}}

References

Category:1951 births

Category:2020 deaths

Category:Activists from Auckland

Category:Businesspeople from Auckland

Category:New Zealand environmentalists

Category:Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Category:Knights of Justice of the Order of St John

Category:People associated with the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Category:People educated at King's College, Auckland