Life lessons: Robyn Kippenberger

Robyn Kippenberger. Photo / Paul Estcourt

It may have been a portent of things to come, but my first memory was as a 2 1/2-year-old, wrapping my arms around an elephant's leg in the Taronga Zoo in Sydney ... then my parents came running.

I think I was an independent and opinionated child. I guess I felt secure knowing I was loved and supported by my family. My mother who taught me to form an opinion about everything and then defend it. I don't remember ever making a suggestion that was disregarded just because I was young.

Mum was, without a doubt, my greatest influence. Her humanity, kindness and generosity were unmeasureable and she loved us unconditionally. I aspire to her standards every day. Dad was an airline pilot and I really wanted to fly too, but back then the employment options for women pilots were in Russia, South America or topdressing. I suppose I could have just done it but then I would have missed out on the life I've enjoyed - and there isn't much of it that I would ever consider changing.

The hardest times were raising three children in Katikati in the 80s. We were fresh out of Auckland and had bought a kiwifruit orchard during the boom, so we faced some really hard times as the kids grew up. You have to dig deep during adversity and we became pretty self-sufficient. We had an amazing garden with chooks and the kids had a blessed childhood, with lots of love and care. It helped that I was working from home and their grandparents lived just around the corner. Otherwise, my greatest challenge was being made a Minister in the first Coalition Parliament. I felt fortunate, but it was scary and, ultimately, satisfying. It was the most extreme learning curve I've faced. I will be forever grateful for the experience and the knowledge it gave me.

When people hear what I am doing now they either say: "You are so lucky" or "I couldn't do your job". I usually say: "Yes, I love my job" to the first and to the second: "It's not so hard if you know you are making a difference."

Educating humans is the only answer to animal cruelty. The abuse and neglect I have seen is appalling and may seem hopeless, but teaching children about the benefits of loving and respecting animals also helps them to value and treat people more. Kindness will save the world. Whether you're talking animals, people or the environment, taking the careless, harsh and selfish path will never end well.

Robyn Kippenberger is currently working on the Blue Tick animal welfare programme. As Robyn McDonald, she served as a New Zealand First MP and Cabinet Minister from 1996 to 1999.