Anna Regtien has been passionate about nature from a very early age. Her role as Manawatū Forest & Bird’s Kiwi Conservation Club co-ordinator is a logical extension of this.
It is a national initiative that works to connect Kiwi kids to New Zealand’s wildlife and wild places. The club has more than 5000 members throughout Aotearoa and offers a quarterly magazine and locally-based opportunities for kids and families to get outside and engage with nature.
Regtien’s father was a Kiwi Conservation Club co-ordinator when she was young, and as a teenager she helped the Kāpiti Coast club.
“My main motivator for taking on the Manawatū-based role is wanting my kids to go on the adventures I did. I love showing kids about nature and seeing the excitement that they show, and I learn a huge amount as well.”
Regtien has been in the role for about a year after six years of the position being vacant and says it’s “so great to have it back”. Over the past 12 months she has run a stream study, a night walk to look for glow worms, a project building rat traps and an excursion to Foxton to look for godwits at the Manwatū Estuary.
