First Kiwi Release on Motutapu Island Marks Launch of Agency

First Kiwi Release on Motutapu Island Marks Launch of New Kiwi Agency

Efforts to save our endangered national bird took an historic step forward today with the release of the first kiwi onto Motutapu Island, in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf Marine Park , marking the launch of New Zealand’s new kiwi protection agency – Kiwis for kiwi.

Up to five Coromandel brown kiwi will be released onto the predator free island as part of a genetic diversification programme to help secure the survival of this rare type of kiwi which has a current population of around 1500.

Kiwis for kiwi patron, Sir Graham Henry, will release the kiwi during a ceremony which more than 200 people will attend.

Sir Graham says he commends the work of Kiwis for kiwi and hopes New Zealanders will give it all the support they can.

“Like many of us, I thought our national bird was so important that its population was stable, so I was deeply concerned to find out that without help, kiwi would be virtually gone from the mainland in our lifetime.

“In recent years I have seen and felt the full force of how deeply New Zealanders value their national identity, particularly on the sports field. This organisation to save kiwi must strike the same chord of national pride, because New Zealand without kiwi is unimaginable,” says Sir Graham.

Just 25 minutes by ferry from downtown Auckland, Motutapu Island becomes the home of the closest population of wild kiwi to our largest city; a bold landmark event that Kiwis for kiwi hopes will draw attention to the plight of this much-loved bird and reignite efforts to save it.

Kiwis for kiwi Chairman, Rob Fenwick says today’s release is the ideal way to launch the new organisation.

“Releasing these birds marks a new era in kiwi protection. We’re building on 21 years of experience as BNZ Save the Kiwi Trust and are more determined than ever to take kiwi from endangered to everywhere.”

Today’s release marks the start of a programme in which up to 50 Coromandel brown kiwi will be moved from the Coromandel Peninsula to Motutapu Island over the next four to six years.

Department of Conservation (DOC) Auckland Area Manager, Jonathan Miles says it’s exciting adding this rare kiwi to the other endangered native birds released on Motutapu since it and neighbouring Rangitoto Island were cleared of pests such as rats, stoats and possums.

Mr Miles says the survival of the kiwi and other native birds released on Motutapu depends on keeping the island free of dogs and animal pests, in particular stoats.

“We know that 95 percent of kiwi living in unprotected areas die before they reach breeding age.”

“Everyone visiting Motutapu and Rangitoto must ensure they don’t accidentally bring mice, rats and other pests onto the islands to ensure the kiwi and other native wildlife stay safe.

“A single roaming dog can wipe out an entire kiwi population in a matter of days, which is why they are banned on Motutapu and Rangitoto,” says Mr Miles.

Motutapu Restoration Trust chair Hon Chris Fletcher says trust volunteers have worked on the island since 1994 to re-establish the islands natural and cultural landscapes. They have planted more than 400,000 native trees, creating a viable forest habitat for the return of native wildlife.

Kiwis for kiwi executive director, Michelle Impey says that today’s kiwi release would not have been possible without the hard work and support of the Motutapu Restoration Trust, DOC, Project Kiwi, Whenuakite Kiwi Care and iwi in Auckland and the Coromandel.

“Without the volunteers who’ve collected seeds, planted native trees and controlled weeds, we would not have suitable habitat to release kiwi on Motutapu. And without the work of organisations such as Coromandel’s Project Kiwi, which began 16 years ago and was the first community programme in the country to protect kiwi, we wouldn’t have birds to release on the island.

“Establishing a new population of Coromandel brown kiwi on Motutapu is the latest step in a long journey back from the brink for these birds. They owe their survival to the combined effort of more than 12 community kiwi groups, landowners, private companies and DOC,” says Ms Impey.

DOC has worked alongside tangata whenua who have been actively involved in the planning for this kiwi transfer.

“The historic release of Coromandel brown kiwi on Motutapu has the full support of the tangata whenua of the Coromandel and Auckland regions. Iwi involved welcome the transfer of this taonga to Motutapu as a symbol of the whakapapa connections between Hauraki and Tamaki Makaurau,” says DOC Auckland Area Manager Jonathan Miles.

Anyone wishing to help save kiwi can donate $3 to Kiwis for kiwi by texting KIWI to 2454.

ENDS

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