24 July 2007
Media release – for immediate release

Community Groups Benefit from Save the Kiwi Funding

Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust (the Trust) today announced its funding allocation for the coming year. $766,000 has been allocated for kiwi conservation, an increase of 15 per cent on the year before.

Forty one conservation projects will benefit from the support of the Trust, with 65 per cent of funds granted going to community based initiatives and university research projects. Department of Conservation (DoC) projects will receive the balance of funds.

Michelle Impey, Executive Director of the Trust, says that a new funding strategy will see a more efficient deployment of funds and renewed efforts to stem the population slide of Haast tokoeka and rowi kiwi, with estimated populations of 250 and 300 respectively.

“One project to receive funds this year involves developing technology to monitor wild kiwi egg incubation to determine the best time to lift an egg or chick.

“The process becomes less labour intensive and less costly, meaning more kiwi chicks can be hatched in captivity and returned to the wild at a size where they can fend off a stoat. This technology will be especially useful in the efforts to save West Coast kiwi, which are critically endangered,” she says.

Developing environmental awareness among young leaders is the goal of the Kiwi Forever Scholarship programme for secondary students. Developed - in partnership with Untouched World Foundation, DoC, Waikato University and Ngati Rangi - and piloted last year, the six day residential course takes students to a kiwi conservation project to experience first hand the reality of saving kiwi.

“We are planning two courses this year, one in the South Island and one at Ohakune. We are targeting youth with leadership potential and an interest in the environment.

“We are hoping that those attending will take what they’ve learned back to their communities and spread enthusiasm for saving our national bird,” says Impey.

“We encourage all New Zealanders to learn more about the plight of the kiwi, which were once as numerous as sheep, and now number less than 80,000 birds. While the current efforts of community groups and DoC are to be applauded, there is always more work that can be done.”

What the public can do to help:

• Make a donation to BNZ Save the Kiwi Trust at any Bank of New Zealand branch or ATM, or online with a credit card at www.savethekiwi.org.nz
• Avoid taking dogs into kiwi areas and always keep your dog on a lead in the bush.
• Volunteer your time to a local kiwi protection group or habitat restoration project in your area.
• If you are a Bank of New Zealand customer, you can choose a Save the Kiwi EFTPOS card or cheque book and make an automatic donation of $10 per card per year or $4 per cheque book. All funds go directly to the Trust.
• Learn more about kiwi and how to protect them by visiting Kiwi Classroom on Trust website www.savethekiwi.org.nz

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