It’s mid-afternoon on a beautifully clear Tuesday in March, and Ngatokoa Tikitau can’t wipe the smile off his face. “Man, that was amazing, eh,” he exclaims to a mate. “It’s so special to be a part of this mahi.” Hailing from South Taranaki (he proudly wears the name of his iwi, Ngāruahine, on his shirt), Ngatokoa is one of more than 40 rangatahi participating in a training event at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari. As kiwi are prepared to be transferred from Maungatautari to safe places in the wild, trainees from gifting and receiving iwi are learning how to care for this taonga species so ..read more

On April 17th, Save the Kiwi and Rotoroa Island Trust had the privilege of hosting the New Zealand and Australian Governors-General, The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro and The Honourable David Hurley, on an intimate kiwi release on Rotoroa Island. This was the first state visit by the Australian Governor-General to New Zealand in five years, so it was an honour to play a part in this important occasion. The visit began with a pōwhiri onto the island hosted by Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and Ngāti Paoa. Our esteemed guests then learned about the work that Save the Kiwi and Rotoroa Island Trust does ..read more

Who said kiwi can’t fly? Thanks to the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 19 kiwi were transferred from Cape Sanctuary to their forever-home deep in the heart of the Northern Ruahine Ranges. Air Component Commander, Air Commodore Andy Scott says it was a unique privilege to help relocate this taonga species to a very hard-to-get-to location. “You don’t get to fly this kind of cargo every day,” he says. “When Save the Kiwi asked the RNZAF to help transport these kiwi into the Ruahine Ranges, we jumped at the chance. The kiwi is the country’s national icon – we literally have the symbol of the kiwi on ..read more

In the last four years, the population of the North Island brown kiwi has increased by at least 7,000 birds. That figure takes into consideration the work of just 25 of the hundreds of projects working to save our iconic species. Today, Save the Kiwi has released the results of an inhouse research project that outlines the estimated growth of the North Island brown kiwi. They analysed the numbers that 25 of the projects they fund reported in 2019 and again in 2023. The results show that combined, these projects have increased the population of North Island brown kiwi by ~7,000 birds. This is a ..read more

Save the Kiwi is proud to announce the findings of an independent impact report conducted by Debbie Teale. The post Save the Kiwi releases independent impact report appeared first on Save the Kiwi ..read more

Last week we undertook a ‘research reconnaissance’ on Auckland’s Rangitoto Island. Neighbouring Motutapu Island is home to a thriving population of kiwi originally from Hauraki-Coromandel. The islands are connected by a large intertidal area and causeway bridge and over the years some kiwi have caught the travel bug and have wandered from Motutapu to Rangitoto. Not enough is known about the year-round suitability of Rangitoto for kiwi in terms of habitat and water supply. Because the temperatures on volcanic rock can reach up to 70 degrees Celsius, Save the Kiwi wants to gain greater insight i ..read more

In December 2023, this DW Documentary episode produced by Joel Dullroy aired on German national TV. What a great way to showcase the wonderful mahi so many kiwi conservationists do to protect this taonga species and create safe habitat for kiwi.   DW Documentary gives you knowledge beyond the headlines. Watch top documentaries from German broadcasters and international production companies. Meet intriguing people, travel to distant lands, get a look behind the complexities of daily life and build a deeper understanding of current affairs and global events. Subscribe and explore the world ..read more

Drought is being predicted for much of the country this summer, as the effects of El Niño start to kick in. But what does drought mean for kiwi? When the ground is dry and hard, it’s difficult for kiwi to probe the ground for food. As the bills of kiwi chicks are softer than those of adults, dry conditions are especially hard on the young. Kiwi get most of their moisture from their food, so they have to forage longer and further than usual. This means they can emerge from their forest habitat in daylight, which increases the risk of being run over by cars or encountering dogs which are a threa ..read more

Owners who prevent their dogs from roaming can sleep easier knowing their dog isn’t in danger. Save the Kiwi and the Department of Conservation are joining forces to encourage dog owners to make a pledge to prevent their dogs from roaming. The “Where’s Your Dog At?” campaign aims to raise awareness about the risks roaming dogs can pose to themselves, other dogs, people, and wildlife. “Just because your dog was on the deck when you went to bed, doesn’t mean it stayed there all night,” says Save the Kiwi dog specialist Emma Craig. “Even the loveliest, cuddliest homebody of a dog can be prone to ..read more

Kiwi have returned to the streets of downtown Tāmaki Makaurau. The Kiwi Art Trail 2023 features 20 kiwi sculptures designed by a range of talented New Zealand artists, including Otis Frizzell, Mike Weston, Flox, SWEATS, Amanda Billing, Byron Romer, Sarah Oostendorp, and Kat Quin. Organised by Save the Kiwi and Gallagher (formerly Crombie Lockwood), the Kiwi Art Trail combines art with the mission to save the kiwi. The result is a free, family-friendly public art trail around Commercial Bay, the Viaduct, Wynyard Quarter, and Silo Park. The Kiwi Art Trail starts on October 9th and will run until ..read more