The founder of a programme that encouraged Kiwi kids to get into the great outdoors says he can't understand the rationale for pulling the plug on it.
Mick Abbott set up the Kiwi Rangers programme with partner Carli Richter in 2009, with help from the University of Otago and Otago Institute of Design and the support of local Department of Conservation Rangers.
It was taken over by DOC in 2014, and became the Toyota Kiwi Guardians Programme.Tens of thousands of kids took part in nature-based adventures and actions at sites all over the country, with the opportunity to earn medals.
But last Friday Toyota and DOC announced the quote - "difficult decision" - to wind up the programme from August 1.
Mick, who's also a professor of Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University, says he can understand the department's need to focus on biosecurity - but says efforts still need to be made to encourage younger generations into the outdoors.
Photo: Department of Conservation
