The Whakatane Kiwi Project

In 1999 a few North Island brown kiwi were discovered in Ohope Scenic Reserve, southeast of Whakatane and south of Ohope. Miraculously, adult kiwi had survived in the reserve without any predator control.

The discovery initiated the Whakatane Kiwi Project, at that time a partnership between Environment Bay of Plenty and Department of Conservation, in conjunction with Te Runanga o Ngati Awa. Since then the Whakatane Kiwi Trust and the Whakatane District Council have also become partners in the Project.

Te Runanga o Ngati Awa are joint managers of Moutohora and Ohope Scenic Reserve and also hold statutory acknowledgement rights over Kohi Point and Mokorua Scenic Reserves.

Since then, targeted predator control (see below) and Operation Nest Egg^TM (see below) have gone a long way to the hope of achieving a self-sustaining kiwi population in Ohope Scenic Reserve and Moutohora (Whale Island) and expansion of management into other areas. There are now more than 150 kiwi under management in the Whakatane area.

Aotearoa being released into the wild

 

Whakatane Kiwi Project Goals

By 2015, the Whakatane Kiwi Project aims to have:

• At least 200 kiwi that have originated from or are managed under the Whakatane Kiwi Project
• At least 120 kiwi, including 20 breeding pairs, in the core area – double the numbers from 2010 target
• Increased the number of kiwi in the privately-owned land areas and at least four sub-populations in the expansion area
• More then 75 percent of the project’s budget coming from investments, external funders, sponsors and donations through the Whakatane Kiwi Trust.
• The project to become community based, with community representatives taking on leadership roles. This is also a responsibility of the Whakatane Kiwi Trust

Whakatane Kiwi Project Fact Sheet 

Weigh in time