MNZMs for Halstead and Lawrence
Queenstown legends Aaron Halstead and Ross Lawrence were among 188 New Zealanders awarded for their services, in the King's Birthday Honours.
Both have been made Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM), Halstead for services to Search and Rescue and the tourism industry, and Lawrence for services to the ski industry.
Halstead has contributed to alpine Search and Rescue (SAR) at regional, national and international levels for more than 30 years, and has been involved with more than 200 rescues. He joined Wakatipu LandSAR Alpine and Cliff Rescue Team in 2000 and is currently Alpine Rescue Team Leader. Over the years of service, he's been Rescue Manager at Aoraki Mount Cook, President of the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association, and has provided advice, moderation and training both national and internationally.
He's also conducted expeditions in Antarctica, both privately and through his adventure business exploreGO, training staff in technical mountain skills and managing people in hostile polar environments, as well as being involved locally with youth development as an instructor for outdoor recreation organisations and as a speaker or lecturer. And he's heavily involved in the Southern Lakes Trails Trust, as Trustee from 2019 and became Chairman in 2023.
Lawrence, meanwhile, as been instrumental in the evolution of the New Zealand ski industry, as The Remarkables ski area manager for 17 years, before stepping down last year.
Beginning as a lift operator in 1984, Lawrence advanced through roles at Whakapapa, Rainbow Valley and Mt Hutt ski fields before taking the top job at The Remarks in 2007, where his leadership directly enhanced NZ’s reputation as a world-class skiing destination and bolstered the economy of the wider Southern Lakes region.
Though various projects, including the base building construction, Curvey Basin and Sugar Bowl chairlifts, along with associated runs, he showed a strong understanding of the cultural and conservation values associated with New Zealand mountains through environmental stewardship. His projects included unique techniques to ensure land was left in an even better condition than when development began, extending to biodiversity conservation, including pest trapping and banding kea.
Lawrence also mentored thousands of staff members over the years, fostering a supportive workplace culture that helped many advance their careers, while demonstrating a keen ability to anticipate the evolving needs of the ski industry, consistently going beyond expectations to implement long-term solutions that enhance both guest experiences and operational efficiency.
