North Canterbury Fish & Game Volunteer of the Year Award for 2025

Earlier today, Operations Manager Lyndon Slater presented the North Canterbury Fish & Game Volunteer of the Year Award to Chris ‘Buddah’ Aldous for the 2024/2025 year.

Traditionally, this award is presented at the Annual Public Meeting. However, due to a range of factors, we were unable to do so at the time, making today a great opportunity to formally recognise Chris for his outstanding contribution.

For more than a decade, Chris has been an integral member of the North Canterbury Fish & Game Honorary Ranger team. Honorary rangers volunteer their time to help protect and support freshwater fisheries and game bird resources, often undertaking compliance work, field activities, and community engagement alongside staff.

Throughout the years, Chris has consistently given his time to support Fish & Game in many ways, from ranging and field workdays to overnight trips, recruiting new honorary rangers at information evenings, and helping wherever needed. Being an honorary ranger can often be a thankless role, but Chris’s dedication, reliability, and willingness to step up have never wavered. He is regularly one of the first to check in with staff and offer support for upcoming activities.

On behalf of all North Canterbury Fish & Game staff and councillors, a huge congratulations and sincere thank you to Chris for his many years of commitment and volunteer service. Your contribution to the organisation and the wider hunting and angling and hunting community is greatly appreciated. We all look forward to spending more time alongside you in the years to come.