23 October 2014

Rotoroa Island welcomes kiwi

Kiwi will soon be roaming Rotoroa Island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. Three kiwi chicks, hatched at Auckland Zoo from eggs collected from Te Mata in the Coromandel are today being released onto the 83ha isle, and more chicks are due for release in November.

The introduction of kiwi marks the start of a new programme between Rotoroa Island Trust (RIT), Auckland Zoo and Thames Coast Kiwi Care (TCKC) that will help boost the population of Coromandel North Island brown kiwi – the rarest of the four distinct types of brown kiwi. Up to 20 chicks could be released onto Rotoroa each year. On reaching 1.2kg – large enough to have a chance against introduced predators on the mainland, the birds will be returned to the 2,500ha protected area on the Thames coast cared for by TCKC. The programme is also providing a number of chicks for release onto Motutapu Island.

The kiwi arrivals during Save Kiwi Month follow the first translocations of wildlife (saddleback and whitehead) to Rotoroa in May as part of a 25-year plan by RIT and Auckland Zoo for this unique wildlife reserve that includes introducing up to 20 new species by 2018.

“It’s wonderful to be celebrating this milestone of providing a place for our national bird to thrive,” says RIT chairman, Barrie Brown.

“I’ve been looking forward to welcoming kiwi here since our partnership with the Zoo launched in 2012. A key part of this Rotoroa project is our schools programme – giving young Kiwi children practical opportunities to grow their love and ability to care for wildlife and the environment. It feels appropriate that their feathered namesake is among species we’ll manage here, and will play a part in inspiring these future conservationists,” says Mr Brown.

Zoo director Jonathan Wilcken says partnering with TCKC to grow the population of this rare, genetically distinct kiwi highlights the value of sharing skills and resources.

“Thames Coast Kiwi Care plays a vital role in protecting kiwi in the Coromandel. RIT and the Zoo are here to help with this work by providing specialist wildlife management skills in incubating, rearing and releasing kiwi, along with an island safe-haven for young kiwi chicks. It’s a great team effort and an example of the type of collaborative and interventionist approach that’s increasingly used to help save wildlife,” says Mr Wilcken.

It’s possible that fewer than 50 Coromandel brown kiwi remain in the land TCKC protects, out of a total Coromandel population of 1500.

“Our volunteer organisation has done a pretty good job of growing kiwi numbers here over the past eight years,” says TCKC chair, Richard Moyle.

“We have 35 dedicated trappers as well as back-up trappers and small stocks of back-up equipment. What we haven’t had until now, is a back-up for the kiwi themselves! If they were ever to go, they’d be likely gone for good. This new partnership is fantastic and gives us the back-up we need, and we’re very proud to be one cog in this forward-moving wheel of kiwi conservation,” says Mr Moyle.

Iwi groups from the Tapu/Te Mata area of the Coromandel and Rotoroa Island have offered their support of the programme.

FAST FACTS

Kiwi on Rotoroa

First chicks: Three male Coromandel North Island brown kiwi are being released onto Rotoroa Island today. Tuatahi (Maori for first) - 40 days old; Atārangi (Maori for shadow) - 27 days old; and Ngāwari (Maori for good natured/easy) - 21 days old.

Public invitation to kiwi releases: More kiwi chicks will be released onto Rotoroa Island on Saturday 15 November (Rain date Sunday 16 November), which public are welcome to attend. For full details visit www.aucklandzoo and www.rotoroa.org

North Island brown kiwi: All brown kiwi live in the North Island, but there are four geographically and genetically distinct forms: Northland, Coromandel, western and eastern brown kiwi. The Department of Conservation (DOC) estimates the Coromandel brown kiwi population to be approximately 1500 birds. These kiwi are at severe risk in areas of the Coromandel where there is no predator control.

Save Kiwi Month: October is Save Kiwi Month. Currently an average of 27 kiwi are killed by predators every week. Kiwis for Kiwi say if nothing is done, today’s generation of kids could be the last to see kiwi in the wild. To find out more visit www.kiwisforkiwi.org

Rotoroa Island Wildlife Reserve

• The Rotoroa Island Trust (RIT) and Auckland Zoo formed a partnership in 2012 to create a wildlife reserve on Rotoroa, funded by the Hutton Wilson Charitable Trust ($4m over five years)

• To date, the partnership has translocated tieke (saddleback), popokotea (whitehead) and now, Coromandel brown kiwi onto Rotoroa. This follows extensive planting, monitoring and pest eradication programmes.

• Recent and upcoming activities: The 80 saddleback and whitehead (translocated to Rotoroa in May 2014) have now settled across the island. A decoy gannet colony installed in May 2014 has so far attracted six gannets, and specially trained rodent dogs will visit in late October as part of ongoing biosecurity maintenance. In early 2015 two endemic skink species are due to be introduced.

• The Rotoroa Wildlife Management and Translocation Plan 2013-2038 and the Rotoroa Current State Assessment can be found at: http://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/conservation/rotoroa-island.aspx

• For 100 years, Rotoroa was run by the Salvation Army as a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre, and was closed to the public, a role that ceased in 2005. In 2011, Rotoroa reopened to the public as an arts, heritage and conservation centre park, after the Hutton Wilson Charitable Trust purchased a 100-year lease of Rotoroa from the Salvation Army, who still own the island. To find out more about Rotoroa Island, visit www.rotoroa.org

ABOUT AUCKLAND ZOO
Auckland Zoo is operated by Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA), a council-controlled organisation of Auckland Council. It is home to the largest collection of native and exotic wildlife species in New Zealand (over 1000 animals and 129 species) and attracts over 700,000 visitors annually. At the heart of all Auckland Zoo's work and activities is its mission: "to bring people together to build a future for wildlife”. A key conservation project is the creation of a unique new wildlife reserve on Rotoroa Island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf with the Rotoroa Island Trust.

ENDS

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