Olive, Lady Hutchins, founder of what is now known as RealNZ, turned 100 on Saturday, celebrating as four generations of the Hutchins family together in Queenstown. While their family lunch was in full swing, a boatload of local youngsters headed across to Walter Peak for their own celebration of this special moment.
Youth and leaders from Queenstown Scout Group, and RealNZ staff and families planted a grove of native plants on the Walter Peak lakefront, honouring Olive’s commitment to preserve the places her company operates in, and inspiring the next generation as future kaitiaki of these places.
When the Hutchins family arrived at Walter Peak to continue their festivities, some of Olive’s great-grandchildren joined the planting effort too. All up, 100 native plants went in the ground to match Olive’s years.
RealNZ also encouraged kids from near and far to experience their adventures for free on the weekend, with a “Kids Go Free” promotion – a gift from the business Olive founded to the next generation of nature explorers. Over the weekend, kids travelled for free on RealNZ experiences, including Walter Peak dining and farm tours, Milford Sound cruises, Rakiura Stewart Island ferries, and the Te Anau Glowworm Caves.
"It has been an honour to celebrate Olive, Lady Hutchins on her 100th birthday,” says RealNZ CEO, Dave Beeche.
“As one of RealNZ's founders, Olive's vision and legacy is intertwined in everything we do. Her passion for the exceptional places we operate in, sharing those places with every generation, alongside she and Les' leadership in the New Zealand conservation movement, have all created what RealNZ is today - a business committed to helping the world fall in love with conservation.”
To find out more about RealNZ’s conservation story, forged by Les and Olive Hutchins, visit our website.