Welcome to our Ambassador blog series, where we celebrate the diverse passions and pursuits of ordinary Kiwi's achieving the extraordinary. From athletes to artists and everything in-between, they embody the spirit of New Zealand through their shared love for their respective sports, activities, passions and occupations.
Join us in discovering their inspiring stories.
9. Robbie Love, Photographer, Environmentalist, Charity Advocate.
Brief outline on who you are, your background, occupation, where you are located etc.
Name & Identity: My name is Robbie, but I'm also known as Green Falcon. I am an avid photographer, sharing my work on Instagram as @green_falcon_photography.
Background & Passion: I am deeply committed to environmental conservation, wildlife protection, and community service. This includes supporting causes like Bird of the Year, particularly for species like the Kārearea, and actively participating in ecosystem clean-ups. My photography often aligns with these values, capturing the beauty of nature and raising awareness for conservation. I am also an ambassador for numerous charities in New Zealand, Australia, America and a co-founder of a charity in the United Kingdom.
Occupation & Work: As a photographer, I work with various charities, contributing my skills to support meaningful causes. I place high importance on giving back to the community and helping preserve the environment through my creative and charitable efforts. Location: my current location is in beautiful Napier, but my work and values have a strong connection to the environment and nature that surround me.
What is your chosen sport/occupation/passion/interest/hobby? What attracted you to this? Why do you love doing it?
My chosen passion is photography, especially focused on nature and wildlife conservation. This interest was fuelled by a love for the environment and a desire to capture its beauty while also raising awareness about the need to protect it. I’m also involved in charitable work and ecosystem clean-ups as I mentioned before.
What are the pros and cons of what you do?
Pros of what I do:
1. Raising Awareness: Photography allows me to showcase the beauty of nature and the urgency of conservation. My work can inspire people to care about wildlife and the environment, potentially encouraging them to take action.
2. Personal Fulfilment: Capturing moments in nature and knowing my work supports charities and environmental causes is deeply rewarding. It gives me a sense of purpose, knowing I’m contributing to something bigger than myself.
3. Community Impact: Working with charities and participating in cleanups fosters a sense of community. It’s an opportunity to connect with others who share similar values and to make a tangible difference together.
4. Creative Expression: Photography is a powerful creative outlet, allowing me to express my passion for nature while constantly improving my skills.
5. Unique Experiences: My work often takes me outdoors, where I get to experience incredible natural landscapes and wildlife up close. This connection with nature is a huge benefit in itself.
Cons of what I do:
1. Financial Instability: Working with charities and focusing on conservation can be financially challenging. It’s often volunteer-based, with limited monetary support, especially when investing in equipment or fundraising for projects.
2. Emotional Toll: Conservation work can be emotionally taxing, especially when dealing with environmental degradation or witnessing the impact of human activity on wildlife. There are moments of frustration when progress feels slow or insufficient.
3. Physical Demands: Field photography and ecosystem clean-ups can be physically challenging, involving long hours outdoors, sometimes in harsh weather or remote locations.
4. High Costs: Photography, especially wildlife and nature photography, requires good equipment, which can be expensive to acquire and maintain. Travel costs can also add up, especially for projects.
5. Time-Consuming: Photography and conservation work require a significant time commitment, from planning trips to sorting photos and engaging in fundraising or advocacy efforts. Balancing it all can sometimes be a challenge. Despite these challenges, the positive impact of my work and the joy it brings make it all worthwhile.
What would you consider your biggest achievement(s) to date?
One of my biggest achievements to date has been establishing myself as a photographer with a purpose, using my work to support charities and raise awareness for conservation causes. Building Green Falcon Photography as a platform to share my images and advocate for nature has been incredibly rewarding, especially seeing people connect with my work and support the causes I care about. Another of my greatest accomplishments and achievements I would say is receiving the Sir Edmund Hillary Youth Achievement Award from Sir Graeme Dingle in recognition for work I do in the community and what I’ve done for others.
What would be your ultimate goal/dream/ destination/achievement?
My ultimate goal is to create a lasting impact in conservation and environmental awareness through my photography. I dream of building Green Falcon Photography into a recognised platform that not only showcases the beauty of nature but actively contributes to conservation efforts, funding projects, and supporting wildlife organisations around the world. A significant achievement would be to publish a photography book or documentary series that highlights endangered species and ecosystems, helping to educate and inspire people to protect them. Ideally, this would include partnerships with conservation groups, allowing the proceeds to directly benefit the causes I photograph. Another dream is to travel to remote and vulnerable ecosystems - from Antarctica to the Amazon - to document these unique environments and bring attention to the urgent need for their protection. By sharing these images and stories, I hope to build a community of people dedicated to making a difference, so together we can drive positive change for the planet. Ultimately, I want to leave a legacy where my work has contributed meaningfully to conservation, encouraging others to connect with and care for the natural world.
How does X-ZONE help you to achieve your goals?
Photography, especially in nature, often involves hiking, carrying heavy gear, and spending long hours outdoors. X-ZONE Natural Pain Relief helps manage any soreness or strains, allowing me to focus more on capturing the moment rather than dealing with discomfort.
Learn more about Robbie/Green Falcon, his philanthropic work and achievements to date:
Sir Edmund Hillary Youth Achievement Award:
Prize winner has new view on the world - NZ Herald
3 News Interview:
My national news interview - YouTube
- Sir Edmund Hillary Youth Achievement Award 2013
- Graeme Dingle Foundation Ambassador
- St Johns (Caring Caller)
- Child Cancer New Zealand (Street Collector)
- NZ Breast Cancer Foundation (Regional Coordinator, Street Collector)
- New Zealand Hospice (Street Collector)
- New Zealand Red Cross (Street Collector)
- Orange Sky NZ Regional Coordinator
- Pink Shirt Day (speaking up to stop bullying)
- Sustainable Coastlines (photographer, social media collaborator)
- 350 Aotearoa (public speaker, social media collaborator)
- X-ZONE Ambassador