Gisborne has lost one of its living human treasures. Michael Smith lived on Waitaria where his family had farmed sheep and cattle since 1869. His ancestor, William Wilkinson Smith, was born in 1839, arrived in New Zealand in 1862 and reached Gisborne in 1864. Michael was a tree crops enthusiast and his enthusiasm was infectious. He planted citrus, feijoas and other crops and lots and lots of different trees. He cared about people and it was an added bonus for him that Waitaria provided employment for many more people than it had as a pastoral farm. He was always ready to share his wonderful knowledge and spent a lot of time talking to people and showing them the amazing transformation that he had created on Waitaria. For decades Michael has been the driving force in the Gisborne Branch of the New Zealand Tree Crops Association. The 1994 National Tree Crops Convention in Gisborne was one of his great achievements and he worked tirelessly to encourage others and to make it the success that it was.

Haere, e Michael, haere ki o tipuna i tua o te arai.