Ruud Kleinpaste

Ruud Kleinpaste is a familiar face to television viewers in New Zealand and around the world.

Known affectionately as ‘The Bugman’, he is a vocal advocate for insects, and has been a regular guest on television and radio shows, as well as writing articles and books.

While possibly best known for his crusade for small critters, Ruud’s background is silviculture, animal ecology and conservation. Since immigrating to New Zealand from the Netherlands in 1978, he has worked in a number of jobs, including 18-months studying the ecology of the brown kiwi in Waitangi State Forest.

Today Ruud’s working life is a mosaic of national and international speaking engagements, media projects, research and consultancy work, mostly on topics of environmental importance. He also frequently travels to little bits of paradise all over the world.

Among that busy schedule, Ruud is a trustee of the BNZ Save the Kiwi Trust, the Air New Zealand Environmental Trust, Project Crimson, the Little Barrier Island (Hauturu) Supporters Trust, and patron for both Keep New Zealand Beautiful and Trees for Survival.

Strategic Plans & Docs

The Department of Conservation has formal strategies and plans to guide how kiwi are managed.

Threats

Kiwi face many threats on the New Zealand mainland.

Kiwi Shop

Buy from the eKiwiShop and donate dollars to kiwi.

Did You Know?

Male kiwi are extremely territorial, strong and often bad tempered. Fights involve high jumps, slashing blows, kicks and tears using their powerful legs and feet, and razor-sharp claws. Wounds can be fatal.