Better Transport: Introducing Nat Simmonds
Kia ora koutou!
I’m Nat, the new Ride for Change co-ordinator, and I am absolutely thrilled to have joined this wonderful organisation and team.
I am originally from Scotland and grew up in a rural area with a strong passion for sustainability and the environment. Since moving to Wānaka three years ago I have been inspired by New Zealanders’ commitment to native restoration and being a ‘tidy kiwi’. I am thrilled by the opportunity to personally prioritise this commitment to sustainability, community resilience, and the environment through my work with Wao. I am really excited to continue the amazing Rob Barry’s work creating tangible positive change in our local community and broader environment.
Active transport has been part of my life since I was young - mostly in the form of walking and using public transport. Since coming to Aotearoa I have lived in areas that aren’t as accessible by walking and don’t have public transport options, so I have been growing my confidence in commuting by bike! I am grateful to Bike Wānaka’s Women's Ride Wednesday for their skill sessions which really helped me with this. I am looking forward to gaining a deeper understanding of the barriers to active transport use in Wānaka and utilising that information to advocate for change. Part of the role, which I have already found to be very rewarding, is running the Friday Bike Bus for primary age children commuting to Holy Family and Wānaka Primary School. Stay tuned for further bike bus updates!
My education background in psychology and sociology has been a key contributor in drawing me to community based work. Building my own personal and professional communities here in Wānaka is one of the ways I am increasing resilience in my own life. Having people to learn from, connect with, and rely on during difficult times makes dealing with life’s pressures significantly easier. I have also been loving learning to garden and grow my own veggies, and have been inspired by Wao’s recent harvest festival and food resilience programme to work towards creating a community crop trading and sharing scheme with my neighbours.
In my free time I love getting into nature and reconnecting with our whenua. I am grateful for our incredible access to stunning natural spaces that allow for slowing down the mind and getting the body moving. I am also involved in local community theatre group Onstage Wānaka, and love singing, and theatre. On windy and rainy days you will find me making music, cooking and baking, or curled up with a book and one of my Cat Rescue Wānaka foster kitties.