William James Ballantine was born on April 15, 1937, and died on November 1, 2015.

He was a British-born New Zealand marine biologist.

Bill has been called the “father of marine conservation in New Zealand”.

Born in Leicester, England, on 15 April 1937, Bill was awarded an MA from Downing College, Cambridge and a PhD from Queen Mary College, University of London.

His thesis was entitled The population dynamics of Patella vulgata and other limpets.

He emigrated to New Zealand in 1964 when he was appointed the inaugural director of the University of Auckland’s Leigh Marine Laboratory.

Bill died in Auckland on November 1, 2015. Minister of Conservation Nick Smith described him as the “father of marine conservation in New Zealand.

In 1990 Bill was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.

In the 1994 New Year Honours he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to marine biology and conservation.

Bill was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 1996, for his work on marine conservation and with New Zealand’s Marine Reserve Act.

In the 2006 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Bill was made a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order, for public services.

Bill passed away at age 78 in November 2015.