I Am Rotorua – Emma Bean

I Am Rotorua Environment Charity and Community

For Emma Bean, what began as a brief volunteer stint at The National Kiwi Hatchery turned into a lifelong passion and a permanent role in kiwi conservation.

Emma’s journey started almost two decades ago when she first volunteered in a predator-fenced kiwi crèche. With a background in biology and microbiology, her hands-on experience soon led to a paid role.

“I was lucky enough that somebody went on maternity leave, and so I jumped up and down and said, ‘Pick me!’ She ended up having three lovely girls and never came back, which was a win for me.”

Originally from the UK, Emma travelled through Southeast Asia volunteering on various conservation projects before arriving in New Zealand.

“I came over here and never left. That wasn’t my plan, but it’s been great.”

Since then, Emma has worked her way up to become the manager of the hatchery, which is owned and managed by Ngāi Tahu Tourism. She’s been involved in every aspect of its growth, from caring for chicks to long-term strategic planning.

“I still love the hands-on kiwi work, but my role has shifted to more long-term planning and looking at new ways to save more kiwi.”

The hatchery is now New Zealand’s most successful kiwi hatchery, and Emma is proud to be part of its story, along with other passionate staff she works with. Just as important as the conservation work, she says, is engaging with manuhiri (visitors) – the hatchery offers several immersive experiences where manuhiri can learn about kiwi and witness firsthand mahi to hatch and care for them.

“We’re in a really privileged position to allow people to connect with the conservation story of the kiwi. It’s about building understanding and inspiring action.”

One of the most memorable aspects of Emma’s work is seeing the reactions of visitors when they learn about the kiwi.

“The size of the egg still blows people away. It’s eye-watering to see the size of the egg inside the bird. Those kinds of visceral experiences are what we aim to provide, helping people understand the challenges kiwi face and why our work is so important.”

Emma is a passionate advocate for education. She actively participates in the broader conservation community, collaborating with other organisations and supporting initiatives like Predator Free 2050.

“We’ve got some amazing initiatives in New Zealand. It’s about taking our visitors on that journey so they can understand why our flora and fauna are so unique and why it’s crucial to keep our environment pristine.”

Her motivation remains clear. “What gets me up in the morning is planning to save more kiwi. It’s not just about the individual birds, it’s about creating a sustainable future for the species.”

Emma knows the work isn’t done yet.

“I would love to do myself out of a job, but I don’t think we’re there yet. We’ve come a long way, but there’s still a lot to do before kiwi populations are stable and secure.”

Through her dedication, Emma has become a leader in her field and an inspiration to others. Her journey from volunteer to kiwi conservation advocate shows what’s possible with a bit of luck, a lot of heart, and unwavering commitment.

“It’s an incredible privilege to do this work. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

~ Emma Bean, The National Kiwi Hatchery