Kiwi month is just around the corner!
Spring has sprung and what better time to celebrate our iconic kiwi!
Although Whakatāne is the kiwi capital of the world so every month is technically kiwi month for us, it is also particularly special because October is when the whole country celebrates our precious kiwi, and we have the ideal opportunity to shine a light on the very real threats facing kiwi populations throughout New Zealand.
All over New Zealand, kiwi still face the ongoing threat of various predators affecting the kiwi population, and more than ever we need help to overcome challenges like trap-shy stoats, dog attacks, and various pest invasions.
Attending kiwi month activities is a great way to learn, and to be more involved as we continue our mahi in the fight against predators.
Check out below what we are doing locally to celebrate next month!
Kiwi Aversion training
In Whakatāne we are blessed to have kiwi living so close by; indeed for those of us who are lucky enough to live near a scenic reserve, there are kiwi practically living in our backyards!
However, because our local kiwi live in such close proximity to urban areas they are in constant danger from threats such as cars, cats and dogs. Dogs in particular, can pose a serious threat to kiwi when walked through scenic reserves in ‘kiwi zones’.
It doesn’t take a huge hunting dog to kill a kiwi – even a playful or curious bite can damage a kiwi’s internal organs and result in death.
You can minimise this risk by getting your dog ‘Kiwi Aversion’ trained at our next training session.
(All dogs must be older than the age of 6 months)
Koha/donation of $10 per dog. Discounts apply when booking more than one dog.
Bookings are ESSENTIAL due to limited training spots. To register your dog(s) please click the link below:
https://forms.gle/GRDwfPQPYbvXxRcW6
Kids Discovery Dusk Walk
Venture into the bush at dusk and discover a new world of sights and sounds!
– Listen for kiwi, ruru and weka.
– Check out the spiders and huge cave wētā
– Look in the stream for native fish like the giant kōkopu
– Hunt for kiwi footprints
– Learn about the work of the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust and what our amazing volunteers are doing to protect kiwi and native taonga (treasures!)
Age guide: 5 to 12 years. All children must be accompanied by an adult and a maximum of four children per accompanying adult is recommended.
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL as places are strictly limited! To book go to: Kids Discovery Dusk Walk! – Whakatane – Eventfinda
Kiwi Month at the Whakatāne Library
Head down to the Whakatāne Library for a fun, kiwi-themed puppet show on Thursday the 13th of October, and take part in a Kiwi Month colouring-in competition throughout the month of October!
There are some cool prizes up for grabs, and our wonderful friends at the Library will also have a selection of kiwi-themed books for you to borrow.
And a HUGE thank you to our friend John McMenamin for creating the fantastic artwork for the colouring-in competition.
Colouring competition age groups are 4-6 years, 7-9 years and 10-12 years
Kiwi Wandering Trail
Looking for a fun and family-friendly activity to do these school holidays?
The Kiwi Wandering Trail is an interactive arts trail comprised of 10 bronze life-sized life-like kiwi sculptures which wanders through the heart of Whakatāne. Grab a map from either the Whakatāne i-SITE or the Whakatāne Library (gold coin donation/koha requested), or download a free e-copy from our website using the link below!
https://www.whakatanekiwi.org.nz/experiences/kiwi-wandering-trail
Kiwi Month Night Walk
As part of kiwi month, the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust is running a special night walk in October. Wrap up warm, grab a torch and explore the REAL Whakatāne Night Life scene with the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust!
Come along and learn about our local kiwi population and the work being done by our amazing volunteers to protect our national icon and other native taonga. If you listen carefully you might even hear the call of kiwi or weka! Birds aren’t the only stars of the show though, you’ll also discover various plant life, nocturnal creepy-crawlies like spiders and wētā, and incredible glow-in-the-dark fungi!
Please be aware that it is very unlikely that you will see a wild kiwi on this walk – they tend to run a mile when they hear a dozen humans coming down the track!
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL as places are strictly limited! To book go to: Kiwi Month Night Walk – Whakatane – Eventfinda
