TONY ROBYN GRINTER NZ

60 Years with Budgerigars – The Story of Tony & Robyn Grinter (Tauranga, NZ)

Robyn’s love affair with budgerigars began at the age of nine, when she received her first pair of birds. By eleven, after her family moved to the country, she was already breeding, and at sixteen she acquired her first three-flight aviary at a deceased estate auction.

She even converted a garden shed into a breeding room. At seventeen, Robyn was showing her own birds—losing all her novice points in the first year (in those days, just five points)—before going on to succeed as a champion exhibitor.

Building the partnership and the stud

At nineteen she met Tony at work, and happily he shared her enthusiasm for birds. The pair married in 1981, buying their first home and juggling life with a menagerie of pets. A move to 25 acres in 1983 gave them the chance to build a purpose-built aviary, and in 1993 they were fortunate to secure imports from the UK through Alan Gamble, which helped shape their stud.

A modern, efficient set-up

Now aged 69, Robyn has spent 60 years in the hobby. Their current home boasts a modern 100m² aviary with seven flights, 50 breeding cages, and a well-equipped workup room complete with dishwasher, tubs, and storage.

Breeding focus and feeding discipline

The Grinters breed many varieties, specialising in Opalines, Normals, Recessive Pieds, and more recently, Greywings. Violets are also a favourite, alongside Lutinos. Their disciplined approach to breeding and feeding—a carefully balanced seed mix, fresh greens, soft foods, and supplements—has helped them maintain one of New Zealand’s most respected studs.

They are active members of the Tauranga Bird Club and are well known for their successes on the show bench.

“It’s not a race,” Robyn says. “Winning will come, but the friendships and memories are what make it truly worthwhile.”

Community, sharing, and what’s next

Though not ones to socialise widely, the couple enjoy the companionship of shows, club dinners, and the occasional group trip. They maintain a Facebook page, Grinter’s Budgies, where Robyn shares breeding pairs and baby photos, and hope to one day launch a website.

Looking ahead, they plan to travel more, with aspirations to visit leading studs in Australia, the UK, and beyond. Until then, they remain committed to their birds, always striving for improvement and enjoying the challenge.

For Robyn and Tony, the hobby has given them a lifetime of joy, achievement, and friendship – a journey they look forward to continuing for many years to come.