East Otago Taiapure management committee chairman Brendan Flack was recently presented the Wild Dunedin Wild Hero award for "going above and beyond" to help the environment, nature and wildlife in Dunedin.
Mr Flack was humble about the achievement and said the award was not only for his work, but the work of present and past committee members.
"It’s wonderful that the last three decades of work has been recognised.
"The main thing for me is that it recognises the work that has gone on from those before us and those that will come after us as well."
Mr Flack and the committee manage a shared fishery incorporating customary, recreational and commercial fishing interests.
The taiapure covers fish, seaweeds and all aquatic life, and is managed for the community, by the community, consistent with tikanga Maori, to ensure a healthy fishery for the future, he said.
"The project was applied for by the elders of Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki 30 years ago.
"It took the best part of a decade to get through the political climate of the time.
"There was concern and misunderstanding about what taiapure actually was and what it might achieve for quite some time.
"We’ve worked really hard to get something like this in place, for the local community, not just certain sectors of the community — for everybody."
While he was delighted with the award, he believed the main reward was still to come.
"The main objective is to ensure access to healthy fisheries for future generations.
"And it’s working, which is the real reward," he said.
