"Fragile Kiwi" Campaign To Protect National Icon

"Fragile Kiwi" Campaign to help protect NZ's national icon

New Zealand's national icon, the kiwi, could face extinction within the next 20 to 30 years, unless more is done to protect our fragile, flightless bird.

That's the grim warning from the New Zealand Kiwi Foundation, which this month is launching a campaign to help make New Zealanders aware of threats to kiwis and their habitat, and what people can do to help minimize those threats.

Foundation Covernor Dr. Greg Blunden, of Kerikeri, says all species of kiwi numbered an estimated 78,000 birds throughout New Zealand in 1998. But by 2004 that population had fallen to about 70,000.

As the Kiwi Foundation is based in Northland, it is primarily interested in protecting the brown kiwi which is mainly found in the northern half of the North Island. The foundation estimates there are some 25,000 brown kiwi, mainly spread between Northland and Coromandel.

Greg says mainland populations of kiwi are declining at a rate of four to five per cent a year. "So if that trend continues unchanged, simple maths suggests the kiwi could become extinct within a generation," he says.

However, a number of organizations like the kiwi foundation are actively working to preserve habitat areas, to manage predators and to manage breeding programmes in those areas. "Thanks to this work, in those managed areas kiwi numbers are stable or increasing. But we do need to do more, and this includes all New Zealanders who want to help preserve our national icon.

"This is not just something for people living in rural areas. City dwellers can also help."

Greg explains that the Fragile Kiwi campaign, which is being launched with a special function at Auckland Zoo on Friday October 19th 2007, aims to educate holiday makers that the summer season sees many kiwi killed by domestic dogs and cats.

"Due to its bone structure, the kiwi is very fragile. Just a dog picking one up in its mouth can kill it.

"So when you visit your holiday bach, please take extra care with your pets. Don't let them roam free in any areas near bush that might be kiwi habitat. That applies almost anywhere in Northland, as well as in the Coromandel, and points south as well."
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Recognising that families have an important part to play in controlling pets, the Fragile Kiwi campaign launch function at the zoo will involve about 100 children and supervisors representing primary schools from around Northland and Auckland.

As well as learning about the kiwi, and seeing the zoo's kiwi house facilities, the youngsters will compete for prizes sponsored by the BNZ Save the Kiwi Trust.

When they return to their schools, many are expected to give class talks as young kiwi ambassadors, helping to spread the word about the importance of protecting our national icon for future generations.

The New Zealand Kiwi Foundation has been running since 1999 and works closely with local bodies, regional authorities and conservation agencies. While based in Northland, it liaises closely with similar conservation groups in other areas of the country.
ENDS

KIWI FOUNDATION FACT SHEET

* There are less than 70,000 kiwi remaining in New Zealand.

* This population is mainly concentrated in Northland.

* The New Zealand Kiwi Foundation is the largest kiwi protection group in the Far North.

* It was started in 1999.

* Their aim is to assist local people to protect their kiwi through helping them to understand our national icon and by setting up and supporting pest control run by them on their land.

* The foundation currently has 110 annual members and 25 life members.

* They cover an area from Whangarei to Cape Reinga of approximately 15,000 hectares of private land.

* As a charitable trust they rely on donations and sponsorship from the public and charitable grants.

* Dogs, cats, stoats and ferrets are among the kiwi's worst enemies.

* Cats and stoats kill around ninety-five per cent of kiwi chicks before they are six months old.

* Adult kiwis are in danger from attack by dogs and ferrets.

* A dog with a taste for kiwi can quickly wipe out whole populations.

* Loss of habitat and pressure from development also threaten this precious bird's survival.

* Most of New Zealand's original native forest, where kiwi once lived free from predators, is now gone.

Trustees of the Foundation:

* Dr Greg Blunden, Kerikeri - Greg was instrumental in the establishment of the NZ Kiwi Foundation in 1999 and continues to be the Convenor of the organisation.

* Russell Thomas, Rangitane, Kerikeri - has a keen interest in all New Zealand birds and has been a member of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand since 1963.

* Kerry Walshe, Kerikeri - He is a member of Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society and Ornithological Society of NZ. He is a past trustee of the New Zealand Native Forests Restoration Trust.

* Ross Lockyer, Doves Bay, Kerikeri - Through Ross's active pest control measures on his own property and adjacent bush (30 acres) over the last 10 years, it is now fully stocked with a stable population of kiwis, which he jealously guards and protects from anything and everything.

* Edwin de Wilde, Kerikeri - Edwin de Wilde was elected treasurer of the NZ Kiwi Foundation in 2006. He is a member of the accountancy team at Horwath Poutsma Arden Limited in Kerikeri and has over 15 years of financial experience based in the Netherlands.

* Tim Robinson, Rangitane, Kerikeri - On seeing a dead kiwi on the road in his new neighborhood of Rangitane Tim became motivated to become more involved in Kiwi protection and this naturally led to him becoming a committee member and then one of the trustees for the New Zealand Kiwi Foundation.

Kiwi Fact Sheet

* Over the past 200 years kiwi numbers have plummeted from millions to about 78,000 in 2006.

* Outside conservation managed areas kiwi numbers declined by as much as 4% in one year.

* There are only 8,300 brown kiwi left in Northland.

* Kiwi numbers are declining most in the North Island.

* 70% of chicks that hatch are killed by stoats and cats or dogs before they reach six months of age.

* Over the summer months the incidents of kiwi deaths increase significantly.

* A mere 5% of kiwi survive to adulthood.

* Kiwi only produce up to four eggs a year.

* On un-managed land kiwi numbers are halving every year.

* Kiwis are most vulnerable before six months of age as they are not strong enough to fend for themselves.

* The average life span of kiwi is only 13 years.

* FACT - one roaming dog in Waitangi forest killed 500 kiwi in six weeks.

* Trapping and pest control measures have been proven to be successful.

* The clearing of land for housing developments is destroying kiwi habitat.

* The kiwi has a fragile bone structure which makes it more susceptible to death by domestic animals.

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