The Kiwi Recovery Programme
The Department of Conservation, the Royal Forest and Bird Society and the Bank of New Zealand launched the Kiwi Recovery Programme in 1991 with the aim of saving Kiwi from extinction on the New Zealand mainland. Before then, surprisingly little was known about our national icon, the Kiwi, except that its population was undeniably in decline.
The Kiwi Recovery Programme has three integrated aims, all of which are essential to save Kiwi from extinction on mainland New Zealand .
The aims are:
Intensive management of Kiwi populations
Information gathering and research
Education and public participation
To achieve these aims the Department of Conservation has developed a ‘fourfold' strategy to preserve the Kiwi.
1) Protecting Existing Kiwi Populations – Mainland Islands
The Department of Conservation is putting a huge effort into protecting wild Kiwi territory. Some key Kiwi sites undergo constant predator control to protect Kiwi and other rare native birds. These sites are known as Mainland Islands . To control introduced predators it is necessary to use kill traps. A trapping grid will consist of several kill traps that are strategically placed around a Kiwi territory to catch Stoats. These traps are specially designed to kill Stoats humanely, whilst also being safe for Kiwi. Many other wild Kiwi populations are intensively monitored to ensure that predator numbers remain minimal.
Some Kiwi populations are protected with Predator Proof Fences. These fences work very well, but can be expensive. Well built predator fences can keep all introduced predators from entering important Kiwi areas.
2) Intensive Management - Operation Nest Egg
Operation Nest Egg is a critical part of the Kiwi Recovery Programme. This technique is used to boost chick survival and is an important part of the intensive management strategy.
In this programme, Kiwi eggs and young chicks are taken from the wild to be raised at captive wildlife centres (often Zoos) or predator free islands. The young Kiwis are returned to the forest when they are big enough to protect themselves from stoats and cats.
Operation Nest Egg allows researchers to ‘buy time' while longer term solutions to the problems currently facing Kiwi are found. Without action, less than 5% of Kiwi chicks survive. Operation Nest Egg increases a Kiwi chick's chances of survival from 5% to 85%. Without this help some critical populations will soon become extinct.
The highly endangered Okarito Brown Kiwi population has increased by approximately 15% since Operation Nest Egg began. North Island Brown Kiwis have also been successfully returned to forests in Northland, Tongariro and Urewera National Park through this programme.
3) Research and Discoveries
Kiwis in the wild are being monitored to seek information about population size. Their ability to cope with introduced predators is also being closely studied. This monitoring scheme also enables changes in Kiwi populations to be assessed rapidly, and appropriate action can then be taken.
A major focus of Kiwi research has been on the different varieties of Kiwi. An exciting discovery has been made about the Kiwis that live in Haast, Fiordland and Stewart Island . It was thought that these birds were Brown Kiwis, but research has shown that they are each separate species. The new species is called Tokoeka – a Ngai Tahu word that translates as “Weka with a walking stick”.
It has also been discovered that the Brown Kiwis which live near Okarito (on the West Coast of the South Island ) are more closely related to North Island Brown Kiwis than they are to Tokoeka. Okarito Brown Kiwis are currently classified as a separate subspecies of Brown Kiwi.
At this time four species of Kiwis, consisting of six distinct varieties, have been classified. It is possible that further research will result in the discovery of further genetic varieties within the Kiwi family.
4) Advocacy, Education and Public Participation
An important part of the Kiwi Recovery Programme is informing New Zealand 's people of the plight of Kiwi and how they can help. There are many initiatives that individuals, families, schools and communities can help with to create a safer environment for Kiwi. Many people around New Zealand are now playing their part in this process.
In the North Island , Kiwi Advocates work with the community to ensure that people understand the issues threatening Kiwi and how to help. In the South Island , Public Awareness and Rural and Urban Advocates visit, advise and educate communities about general conservation, including protection of the Kiwi.
The different subspecies of Kiwis are threatened by different influences. Factors that contribute to the decline of one Kiwi subspecies may not threaten other varieties that are located in a different habitat, or area of New Zealand . It is important that communities are aware of the subspecies of Kiwi located in their region and the specific threats to their long-term survival.
