One of the country’s top vets has been honoured for his contribution to veterinarian science.

During a formal ceremony at Government House in Wellington, and watched by four generations of his family, Animal Health Board veterinarian Paul Livingstone was awarded the Queen's Service Order, the QSO, by Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand,.

Dr Livingstone has been behind nearly four decades of efforts to rid New Zealand of TB.

He is acknowledged as the scientific leader of the TBfree New Zealand programme, and his work is recognised internationally, particularly in the US, England, Wales, Ireland and Chile..

Currently TB Eradication and Research Manager at the Animal Health Board, Dr Livingstone’s work has been pivotal in reducing infected herd numbers, from more than 1700 in the mid-1990s, to fewer than 100 today.

He also played a major role in identifying possums as the main carrier of TB, and source of the disease, in New Zealand cattle and deer herds.