This year, at the Legends of Conservation Adventure Race at Pukieti Gardens, participants can not only meet local conservation legends and win prizes, but they can also earn a cool once-only reward.

Toyota Kiwi Guardians is a joint initiative between Toyota and the Department of Conservation, which encourages Kiwi kids to get into nature and inspire them to take conservation action.

The Legends of Conservation Explorer medal is a special edition medal created just for Conservation Week. This medal is in addition to the five permanent Toyota Kiwi Guardians sites around Taranaki. The medal is only available on the race day on 14 September, and participants need to find a code word from local legends Tasman Toyota.

Embarking on a Kiwi Guardian adventure is a great way to get kids outdoors. With an adventure map in hand, families can explore many different environments, collect special code words from the Kiwi Guardian posts, and claim rewards in the form of medals. ­

Conservation Week runs from 14 – 22 September, and as well as the adventure race there are opportunities to learn about marine species, check out Moturoa School's native plant propagation unit, watch environmental-themed films at Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, and learn about conservation in the city with New Plymouth District Council. Find more upcoming Taranaki Conservation Week events.