North Island brown kiwi and kōkako populations in the Kaimai region, specifically the Mangapapa and Opuiaki, stand to
benefit from a partnership between Trustpower and Ngamanawa Incorporation.
Trustpower will provide funding to support surveys of local kiwi and kōkako numbers, as well as pest control efforts to
protect and establish the populations, for the next three years. The work will be undertaken by Ngamanawa Incorporation,
which manages the land interests of hapū in the area, together with the Department of Conservation.
The partnership builds on surveys undertaken between 2016 and 2019, which identified a dwindling remnant population of
North Island brown kiwi near Waitaia Lodge.
Ngamanawa Incorporation General Manager, Tim O’Brien, says the funding will allow the group to increase the scale and
effectiveness of the ground based pest control operation. “Ultimately, we have areas that hold significant ecological
value, being held back by limited resources,” says O’Brien.
“As kaitiaki, putting the environment and our taonga species first encourages us to react with more focus and urgency.
We currently need help reversing a desperate situation – rapidly declining relic populations of kiwi and kōkako within
the Kaimai hydro catchment. Therefore, the ability to achieve sustainable outcomes within our shared areas is only
possible through partnership.
“We are looking forward to working with Trustpower in a collaborative effort alongside the Department of Conservation to
protect both our resident kiwi and kōkako populations. We also look forward to sharing some of the history of the land
with Trustpower staff, in relation to certain areas of where the Kaimai Power Scheme draws water from.”
O’Brien says the organisation is grateful for the support from Trustpower and is encouraged by the hands-on partnership
approach, with Trustpower staff taking part in survey and monitoring activities from later this year.
Trustpower Environmental and Regulatory Services Manager, Ryan Piddington, said the partnership was representative of a
wider desire to work collaboratively with groups who shared a passion for ensuring New Zealand’s ecosystems and
biodiversity are thriving for future generations.
“Trustpower has identified mahi tahi (collaboration) and tiaki (to care for people and place) as values that are
important to us and how we operate. Supporting Ngamanawa Incorporation in their aspiration to protect kiwi and kōkako
populations right here in our own back yard brings us all closer to our shared goal of sustainability,” he said.
Ngamanawa Incorporation has a broad environmental strategy which includes native seed collection to ensure long-term
biodiversity, biosecurity work including kauri dieback prevention, and working to eradicate pest and plant species
including wilding pines.