Archived content: This media release was accurate on the date of publication. 

Introduction

Get your tamariki into nature with a brand-new Toyota Kiwi Guardian adventure site launching at Smugglers Bay, Whangarei Heads, on Saturday 14 October.

Date:  03 October 2017

The launch event is from 10am to 2pm, and DOC is launching this site in style.

There will be guided walks, free sausage sizzle, giveaways and activities. Make a day of it and head down to Smugglers Bay for a spring dip or explore a rockpool.  

Maki is proud to be a Kiwi Guardian at Mavora Lakes.
Maki is proud to be a Kiwi Guardian at Mavora Lakes
Image: DOC

Toyota Kiwi Guardians is an activity based programme helping kids connect with nature by encouraging them to go on epic self-guided adventures and earn rewards.

The Smugglers Bay adventure site takes children and families on a 12-stop looped walk where kids can use the map to spot birds, a WWI gun emplacement, rockpools, a hobbit hole and more.

Along the way they’ll also find a Kiwi Guardian post with a special code word, which they can use to claim their adventure medal. 

This new Toyota Kiwi Guardians adventure site offers something for everyone and every fitness level. Even the littlest of legs will find lots to keep them interested.

The Smugglers Bay Loop Track is a 3 km, 1.5-hour easy walk suitable for families and off-road pushchairs. There is a shorter adventure walk to the WWI gun emplacement which is approximately 25 minutes return, and there is the option to walk to the picturesque Smugglers Bay Beach (15 minutes from the carpark).

DOC and Toyota New Zealand are encouraging Kiwi kids to become guardians of the land and sea, and helping parents get their tamariki out into nature. While kids are outside enjoying fresh air, having fun and creating memories they’re also building good conservation habits.

This Smugglers Bay site launch coincides with Conservation Week. In addition to the adventure medal kids can earn by exploring Smugglers Bay, there is also a special Conservation Week action medal called Toa Tiaki Wai (Water Champion).

To earn Toa Tiaki Wai, kids need to help clean up a water source and approach someone who can explain why the water source is significant to them, like a local community figure or group, local iwi or the council.

For a full list of adventure sites and action medals, and more info on how to get involved, go to Kiwi Guardians.  

Toyota Kiwi Guardians enables parents to give tamariki hands-on nature experiences at little to no cost, plus it’s fun and rewarding to boot. 

Toyota Kiwi Guardians Smugglers Bay Launch

  • Saturday 14 October 10 am – 2 pm
  • Smugglers Bay, Whangarei Heads

Background information 

How the Toyota Kiwi Guardians programme works - there are three options:

  1. Adventures: go on epic self-guided adventures at local parks or reserves and track down a Guardians Post to locate a secret code word. Each site has its own adventure map to guide your journey, which you can find at Kiwi Guardians.
  2. Actions: complete tasks in your own backyard, eg: build a wētā motel or track your cat
  3. Exploring: certain events, like Seaweek or Conservation Week. 

When kids have completed a task, they can visit Kiwi Guardians and claim a medal online, which will be posted at no cost. There’s a list of cctions to do and a map of adventure sites.

Show us your snaps on social media using #kiwiguardians or by visiting the Toyota Kiwi Guardians Facebook page.  

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

 

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