Ruud Kleinpaste

Rudolf Hendrik Kleinpaste MNZM (born 23 April 1952),[1] generally known as Ruud Kleinpaste, is a Dutch-New Zealand naturalist and host of the Animal Planet series Buggin' with Ruud. Born in Djakarta, Indonesia, Kleinpaste was educated in The Netherlands, and then studied plant sciences at Wageningen University, eventually earning a degree in silviculture.[2] At the age of 20, he became interested in entomology.

Ruud Kleinpaste

MNZM
Kleinpaste in 2018
Born
Rudolf Hendrik Kleinpaste

(1952-04-23) 23 April 1952
Djakarta, Indonesia
NationalityDutch
Alma materWageningen University
Scientific career
FieldsEntomology

After emigrating to New Zealand in 1978, he worked in various environmental jobs before settling down to 14 years in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF). In 1987 he started a talkback radio show (Ruud's Awakening) in which he offers environmentally friendly horticultural tips to gardeners.[2] He married New Zealander Julia May in 1985; they have one daughter and two sons and live in Auckland. [3]

The success of this show led to some fame in New Zealand, where he is known as "the Bugman", notably on Maggie's Garden Show from 1992 till the end of the program in December 2003.[2][4] He retired from MAF in the middle 1990s for a career as an ecological consultant. This line of work has led to television work inside and outside New Zealand,[2] which has brought further fame for him and his environmental causes. These include promoting environmentally friendly agricultural techniques, the protection of endangered native NZ birds, and, most famously, the understanding and appreciation of insects, spiders, and other terrestrial arthropods.

In the 2018 New Year Honours, Kleinpaste was appointed an honorary Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to entomology, conservation and entertainment.[5]

See also

References
  1. Lambert, Max (1991) [1908]. Who’s Who in New Zealand (12 ed.). Wellington: Reed. p. 348. ISBN 0790001306.
  2. "Ruud Kleinpaste – The Bugman". Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  3. Lambert, Max (1991) [1908]. Who’s Who in New Zealand (12 ed.). Wellington: Reed. p. 348. ISBN 0790001306.
  4. "Maggie's Garden Show". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  5. "New Year honours list 2018". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
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