Peter Garden (ONZM) started out as an agricultural pilot in Southland and then formed his own helicopter company. His flying skills and knowledge of pest eradication has seen him work closely with the Department of Conservation, but also engaged in many global predator eradication contracts including in South Georgia, the Aleutian Islands, Puerto Rico and the Seychelles.
Growing up in Southland, his memoir Southern Wanderer is an account of 75 years of his life, and business, conservation efforts and flying endeavours.