Media release

Embargoed until 5pm Thursday April 18, 2013
(The kiwi release will be completed by 5pm)

International company helps release rare kiwi on Motutapu Island

Two Coromandel brown kiwi are being moved to predator free Motutapu Island, in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park today (Thursday April 18) as part of a programme to help secure the survival of this rare type of kiwi.

Motutapu Restoration Trust donors, including a representative of the global corporate Bayer, will help release the kiwi on Motutapu.

Dr Jacqueline Applegate, the new CEO and Managing Director of Bayer in New Zealand and Australia
says she’s excited about releasing the kiwi and supporting the conservation work carried out by the Motutapu Restoration Trust in partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Bayer recently came on board as a new supporter of the Motutapu Restoration Trust both financially and through volunteering with native tree planting on the island.

The Trust has planted nearly half a million native trees on Motutapu providing a home for the rare Coromandel brown kiwi – which has a population of around 1500 – and other native birds including critically endangered takahē with a population of just 260.

As part of its 150th anniversary, Bayer is providing the Trust with $25,000 and making a commitment to plant and maintain two hectares of native forest on Motutapu, to be known as the Bayer Block. The company’s New Zealand employees will also help clear weeds to protect newly planted seedlings.

“We’re very dependent on the generosity of individual and corporate donors,” says Christine Fletcher, chair of the Motutapu Restoration Trust. “Bayer will contribute both funds for native forest restoration and management and volunteer time. This is an exciting development that we hope other large corporations will follow.”

“Donations of money and volunteer time are essential to the continuing restoration of Motutapu as a pest-free home where our unique native wildlife may be enjoyed by future generations of New Zealanders and visitors from overseas.”

“Over the last year we’ve had a generous donation of takahē drawings from the family of the late Don Binney, who was awarded an OBE for his services to New Zealand art. These anchored an art auction which raised over $100,000 and now we’ve entered into a new agreement with Bayer New Zealand,” says Christine Fletcher.

Dr Applegate, who is originally from United States, says: “I’m new to this part of the world. I took up my position as CEO and Managing Director of Bayer Australia New Zealand earlier this year and I was very pleased to learn from our team that we are supporting the survival of the national symbol of New Zealand. What an honour it is for me to take part in this release.”

“Bayer is celebrating its 150th birthday this year. It’s appropriate to mark a significant event in our history by working with the Motutapu Restoration Trust and DOC, to help secure the future of these rare kiwi and restore the natural heritage of this beautiful island,” says Dr Applegate.

Coromandel brown kiwi are genetically different to all other brown kiwi. DOC is working with the Motutapu Restoration Trust, community groups on the Coromandel - including Project Kiwi and Whenuakite Kiwi Care - and iwi to establish a self sustaining population of up to 50 Coromandel brown kiwi on Motutapu.

This will provide long term security for these rare kiwi by increasing their number and mixing their
genes. This will be achieved by moving Coromandel brown kiwi from all over the peninsula to Motutapu, producing healthier, more robust birds which could be returned to the Coromandel in the future.

The first five Coromandel brown kiwi were moved to Motutapu in October last year. Now, two more are being released today as another step towards building a self-sustaining population on the island.

Motutapu and neighbouring Rangitoto – the islands are joined by short causeway – became a safe haven for endangered native wildlife in August 2011, when they were declared free of pests such as rats, stoats and possums.

Since then five threatened native birds – Coromandel brown kiwi, takahē, tīeke (saddleback), shore plover, whiteheads (pōpokotea) – and two freshwater native species with declining populations – koura (freshwater crayfish) and red fin bullies – have been released on Motutapu. Tīeke, whiteheads and shore plover have also been released on Rangitoto.

The kiwi being released today come from the Project Kiwi sanctuary established by locals and landowners on the Kūaotunu Peninsula, north of Whitianga, in 1996. They were the first community group to protect kiwi and helped pioneer predator control and kiwi breeding techniques that have been adopted throughout the country.

“The support we’re getting from Project Kiwi, other community groups such as Whenuakite Kiwi Care, and iwi, is vital to the work we’re doing to secure the future of Coromandel brown kiwi,” says DOC’s Auckland Area Manager, Jonathan Miles.

The transfer of kiwi to Motutapu is part of the work DOC is doing throughout the country in partnership with Kiwis for kiwi.

“Kiwis for kiwi provides funding for Project Kiwi’s work to save kiwi on the Coromandel. This is one of the dozens of kiwi recovery programmes that Kiwis for kiwi helps fund from Northland to Stewart Island. Their support is vital in the work to secure the future of our national bird,” says Jonathan Miles.

ENDS

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