CRAIGMORE - SIR PETER

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In 1960 Peter married Fiona McHardy from Sherenden and Aramoana farming properties in Hawkes Bay.

Peter lived with Fiona at Craigmore South Canterbury New Zealand until his demise in January 2004. Sir Peter traveled often from there - both within New Zealand and internationally with his and family business interests.

He was a President of Federated Farmers of New Zealand from 1984 to 1987, at the critical time in New Zealand history when subsidies and protections were dismantled, and farmers moved from a high level of intervention to facing the free market.

He was a Director of New Zealand's central bank, The Reserve Bank, from 1985-1999, and was Chairman of Independent Directors of the Bank from 1993-1999.

He was the Founding Chairman of the very successful Ravensdown Fertiliser Co-operative Company.

He was the pioneer President of the New Zealand Deer Farmers Association and received in 1994 the New Zealand Deer Farmers Award jointly with Sir Tim Wallis, another New Zealand Deer Farming pioneer, both of whom continued their deer farming interests and maintained their close friendship right to the end.

Tim, Peter, Mark Acland and Robert Wilson sponsored "Deer the New Zealand Story", the authoritative account of the unique history of deer in New Zealand.

Chairman of Queen Elizabeth II National Trust from 1987 to 1993. The Trust covenants unique areas for conservation on private property.

Sir Peter's awards, distinctions and activities include:

• 1970 Nuffield Scholarship to Britain

• 1978 McMeekan Animal Production Memorial Award

• 1987 Bledisloe Award Lincoln University

• June 1988 Knight Batchelor in the Queens Birthday Honours

• 1990 New Zealand Commemoration Medal

• 2001 Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Directors

• Chair of the Biological Husbandry Unit at Lincoln University

• Chair of Wild Peter Products - Company set up to put price on possum to assist their control

• Chair of Willows Group - Organic Chickens

• 2002 - Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) Lincoln University

Sir Peter's interests included reading, theatre, and horse riding, and his Tiger Moth aircraft which he flew regularly.

Their children are:

Charles born 1961 Forbes born 1962 Josephine born 1964 Eve born 1966

For family addresses please refer to Family Links.

Peter Herbert Elworthy had a distinguished and varied career, focused on agriculture, but moving in later life to general commerce, substantially land based.

Peter attributed his year working in the Southland high country at Glenaray Station, owned by the Pinckney family in Southland, as being the best education he had for agriculture and for life.

He had wide experience as a Chairman and a Director of Public Companies and Public Good Trusts and Institutions.