The Raptor Award

Awarded for Outstanding Efforts in NZ Raptor Conservation.

The Wingspan Raptor Award was established in 2006 to recognise individuals, groups, and/or organisations for outstanding efforts and contributions towards New Zealand birds of prey. Twenty years on, we are delighted to announce the recipient of the 2026 Raptor Award is Noel Hyde.

As a young boy Noel had an affinity for raptors, but it wasn’t until he became the Collection Manager of Birds at Te Papa that his professional journey into the world of birds of prey really began. In 2004 he embarked on a new chapter when he and Debbie opened the Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre in Rotorua.

Since then, Noel has volunteered as a Trustee for 23 years and chaired the Board for six of them. He has also served as a contractor, becoming central to Wingspan’s operations in captive management, the first breeding and hack releases of kārearea, rehabilitation of injured raptors, public education and research.

A big proponent of using falconry for the conservation and advocacy of birds of prey, Noel was a key contributor to the legalisation of falconry with swamp harriers in Aotearoa in 2010. He helped develop regulations to ensure responsible practice and was instrumental in the establishment of the New Zealand’s Falconers Association. Noel subsequently became the holder of the first falconry permit issued in New Zealand.

Noel has also represented New Zealand at International Falconry Festivals in the UK and UAE, from which strong alliances between Wingspan and the international falconry and raptor conservation communities were formed.

While he would not describe himself as an academic, Noel’s contributions to raptor research are significant. His experience as a research taxidermist has proved invaluable for feather and prey identification, and he has authored or collaborated on 16 published scientific papers, reports and technical articles.

Although he has played a key role in the monitoring and research of falcons in pine plantations, Noel has especially been a major driver of barn owl research in New Zealand. He has dedicated hours to observing them in the wild and collecting and dissecting pellets for diet studies, and he was among the first to band them in the wild. Over the years, this has made him a leading expert in the species and a valuable resource in the conservation sector.

But don’t just take our word for it! Noel’s efforts have been recognised on many fronts. He has been a winner of the Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year medal, a winner of the Rotorua Lakes Council Community Award and – most notably – recognised in the 2018 New Year Honours List with his appointment as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for his services to research taxidermy and wildlife conservation.

As a staunch advocate, generous volunteer, and avid aviculturist, Noel is a true champion for our birds of prey and a deserving recipient of the 2026 Raptor Award.