Jim Lynch | |
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Born | James Robert Lynch 11 September 1947
Whangārei, New Zealand |
Occupations |
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Known for | Founder of Zealandia |
James Robert Lynch QSM (born 11 September 1947) is a New Zealand cartoonist and conservationist.
Lynch was born in 1947 in Whangārei. He grew up on a farm in Hūkerenui. [1]
His first cartoons were published in the Taranaki Daily News in 1979 (appearing weekly until 1986) and he produced fortnightly cartoons for the New Zealand Times from 1981 to 1985. [2] He was the runner-up in the New Zealand Cartoonist of the Year category at the Qantas Press Awards in 1983. [2] Lynch's cartoons appeared under the name 'James' because "I didn't want to go to my boss and ask if I could have secondary employment as a political cartoonist". [3]
Lynch is possibly better known as a conservationist and founder of eco-sanctuary Zealandia in Wellington. [4] [5] He wrote a book Zealandia: the valley that changed a nation which told the story of the creation of Zealandia. [6] [7] He was the President of the Wellington Branch of Forest and Bird from 1991. [2]
In 2022, Lynch was commissioned by Wellington Regional Council to produce a feasibility study of establishing a wildlife sanctuary in the Wainuiomata Water Collection Area. The study found that the project was "technically and practically feasible". The name given to the proposed sanctuary is Puketahā. [8]
In the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours, Lynch was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for community service. [9] [10]