‘Whakatāne, Kiwi Capital of the World™’
The Whakatāne district is abundant with indigenous wildlife, including the kiwi. Kiwi in New Zealand are a unique and endangered species. It is both unusual and exciting to to have a population of kiwi so close to a major centre, as they are in Whakatāne.
Kiwi, our iconic national bird, literally live in our backyards. Residents and visitors to the area have the unique opportunity to walk into the bush and step into kiwi territory. This exceptional set of circumstances has led to recognition of Whakatāne as the ‘Kiwi Capital of the World™’.
However, without active management this endangered bird and other native species are at risk of declining again towards extinction. In the reserves around Whakatāne an intensive network of bait stations and traps was formed and active kiwi monitoring has been undertaken by volunteers, since the project’s inception in 2001.
The community-led ‘Whakatāne Kiwi Project’ is supported by the Department of Conservation, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, the Whakatāne District Council, Te Rūnanga O Ngāti Awa, the Dodds Family Trust and other private landowners.
One of the many rewards which flows from the Whakatāne Kiwi Project is improvement of the local biodiversity as a whole.
With some wonderful success stories to date, the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust and its supporters are looking to expand the scope of the project to help support a self-sustaining kiwi population.

Trappers Map
View the trapping network in the Whakatāne Kiwi Protection Area
Report Kiwi Emergencies
While out walking in the bush or travelling on our roads you may come across an injured or dead kiwi. Please contact us asap.
Report a Kiwi / Robin
If you are in the Whakatāne Kiwi Area and see a kiwi or robin, report it here!
Sponsor a trap
Help Whakatāne Kiwi by sponsoring a stoat trap
The Whakatāne Kiwi Trust gratefully acknowledges the support of our current sponsors and supporters.
- Kiwis for Kiwi
- JN Williams Memorial Trust
- Waiotahi Contractors Ltd
- Electric Kiwi
- EastPack
- Craigs Investment Partners
- The Southern Trust
- Macpac Fund for Good
- FARMit Accountants
- Toi’s Challenge
- Forest and Bird
- John Black Consulting
- Bay Storage Ltd
- Vets 4 Petz
- Whakatāne Police Station
- Simple Designs
- Sam Clark Artist
- Neil Robert Hutton Photography
Post: Whakatāne Kiwi Trust, PO Box 186, Whakatāne 3158, New Zealand Email: admin@whakatanekiwi.org.nz