Tony Billing's work breeding our iconic native bird has brought him a professional excellence award.

Two national treasures

REBECCA STEVENSON
HE gets on with the job, never keen to blow his own trumpet.

But it will be harder to avoid recognition now that Tony Billing has joined Steve Irwin in the Australasian zoological hall of fame.

Mr Billing, Napier City Council parks and reserves manager, was gobsmacked when he was awarded the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks & Aquaria award for professional excellence.

A discretionary award, it has been given out only five times, with the last recipient the famed Crocodile Hunter.

"Steve Irwin was no slouch," said Mr Billing with a grin, clearly still chuffed with the honour bestowed on him at a ceremony in Australia last Thursday night - complete with standing ovation from over 200 of his peers.

"I feel very privileged to be in such esteemed company. It's thrilling and humbling," he said.
His day to day work puts him in the public eye, but what Mr Billing is really passionate about is not public.

Mr Billing is helping to save the kiwi, one egg at a time.

His work breeding kiwi has made him, in the words of his award, one of the foremost authorities on our national icon. And this is just the kiwi - he also works with the Chatham Island black robin, takahe and kakapo.

His passion for wildlife started at the age of 7, Mr Billing said, adding that he will never retire as long as there is wildlife to protect and preserve.

"It's important to remember that saving a species, especially kiwi, is a team event. No one person can claim to have done that," he said.

But Mr Billing is the man who, every night for the last 28 years, has gone and fed each chick and adult bird well after his work day is meant to have finished. He can take credit for that