An eight-month-old captive-bred kiwi had the honour this week of being the first juvenile female kiwi to be released into the wilderness of the Pukaha Mount Bruce forest.

The yet-to-be named bird was released into the 942 hectare forest on Monday by pupils of Hadlow School as part of the Pukaha adopt-a kiwi-programme, in which Wairarapa schools adopt and name kiwi in the forest. She is the fifth juvenile to be released into the forest over the past two years and the third offspring of the pair that was at captivity at Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre.

The other two were conceived in the forest by kiwi released there from captive breeding programmes. Those chicks were also hatched in captivity and released into forest when they were ready to fend for themselves. Another two wild bred juvenile are awaiting release after being hatched at the centre.

Sixteen adult kiwi and five juveniles have been released into the forest over the past four and half years. The parents of the juvenile released this week - Rangi and Tua - were themselves released in October last year, after having spent their lives until then in captivity. While Tua unfortunately lost his life after falling into a stream shortly afterwards, his genetic heritage lives on, Department of Conservation biodiversity ranger Tony Silbery said.

“Rangi is still close and has adapted well to life in the wild and now their chick has followed her into the forest.”

Thirteen of the birds now residing in the forest, including all the juveniles, have been fitted with transmitters to enable DOC staff to monitor their movements and track adult males to nests.

The successful reintroduction of kiwi, kaka, and kokako into the forest has been made possible through the Pukaha restoration project, a co-operative venture between DOC the National Wildlife Centre Trust, Rangitaane O Wairarapa, Greater Wellington Regional Council and Horizons Regional Council.

The restoration project, which began in May 2002, is supported by the Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust, the Masterton and Tararua District councils, local Masterton media and a significant number of sponsors. A major community fundraising campaign, the Community challenge - launched in July 2004 by Masterton mayor Mr Bob Francis, raised more than $550,000 towards the project.

Mr Silbery said it was exciting to see the results of efforts to restore threatened wildlife to this last remaining stand of a once vast primeval forest.

“We’ve got flocks of kaka flying overhead, kokako continuing to increase, and kiwi breeding in close proximity to the visitor centre.

“It shows just what can be achieved by communities with a commitment to restoring their natural heritage.”

Caption: The latest kiwi to be released into the Pukaha Mount Bruce forest. This image was taken in June last year, when she was just three days old. Photo: Sandra Burles/DOC

For more information please contact Tony Silbery. Phone 06 375 8004 or 027 369 8999

DOC kiwi information: Paul Jansen 04 471 3236 or 025 410 026
DOC media liaison: insert name and contact telephone of local media officer or the HO contact
Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust: Michelle Impey, ph: 09 375 1084 or 029 478 4610

Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust was established in November 2002 by the Bank of New Zealand and the Department of Conservation, building on a 12-year sponsorship relationship. The Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust is responsible for public awareness and education, fundraising, sponsorship and grant allocations for kiwi recovery nationally.

http://www.savethekiwi.org.nz

ENDS

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