Kiwi release a first for NZ Kiwi Camping Company

MEDIA RELEASE

November 19, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kiwi release a first for NZ Kiwi Camping Company

An anxious wait for the new arrival at Maungatautari Ecological Island came to a head on 8 November when the Kiwi Camping Co. sponsored kiwi chick, Te Koingo was released back onto Maungatautari. The kiwi chicks release marks another success for the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust (MEIT) project to return the area to a haven for native wildlife.

Although laid naturally on Maungatautari to parents Robin and Horokio, the kiwi chick hatched four weeks ago in the specialist, artificial hatching facility at Kiwi Encounter in Rotorua. Te Koingo, meaning ‘treasured, or yearned for’ is the 18th kiwi to be released into the pest-free environment under the watchful eye of MEIT.

MEIT’s vision is “to remove, forever introduced mammalian pests and predators from Maungatautari and restore to the forest a healthy diversity of indigenous plants and animals not seen in our lifetime.” Maungatautari ecologists plan to see flora and fauna species such as kiwi, kokako and tuatara thriving in the enclosures and are delighted to see the local community and businesses like Kiwi Camping Co. sharing their enthusiasm for the project.

Company director Allan Murray said “after 21 years in the camping industry we feel we have found an ideal cause that connects to the nature of our core camping business and are able to give back to the land and the community that has been so supportive over the years”.

Kiwi Camping Co. are excited to be a part of the project and feel that sponsoring this kiwi chick’s development is a way to help band the community together to create an asset that will enable future generations to experience our national icon and pass on a respect for our environment and wildlife.

“We are thrilled to be part of such a worthwhile cause and look forward to following the success of Te Koingo” said Kiwi Camping Co. director Tim Stace after getting to meet the kiwi chick on Saturday.

Kiwi Camping Co. is a camping and outdoor products manufacturer and wholesaler in the Waikato and distributes to leading camping and outdoor retailers nationwide. More information about Te Koingo and the Kiwi Camping range is available at www.kiwicamping.co.nz or on 0800 TO CAMP (86 2267).

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