Geoff Moon

Who was Geoff Moon?

Geoff Moon, OBE MRCVS ARPS Hon FPSNZ MACVs., was a New Zealand naturalist an ornithologist, conservationist, veterinary surgeon and photographer. He is the author and photographer of many books on New Zealand birds and landscape. Moon was the Patron of the Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust, was patron of the Photographic Society of New Zealand, a Waitakere Arts Laureate, a distinguished life member of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, an Honorary Fellow of the Photographic Society of New Zealand and an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain.

Moon was born in China where his English parents were living while his father worked in a managerial position for Shell Oil. The family moved back to England for his education where he qualified as a veterinary surgeon at the Royal Veterinary College. Moon came to New Zealand in 1947 as the New Zealand Government was recruiting veterinary surgeons. Originally he worked and practised in Warkworth and surrounding area, where he lived with his family. In more recent years, he had been living in Titirangi. He is an honorary life member of the New Zealand Veterinary Association. In 1994 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services to the veterinary profession and photography.