Kiwi Crèche in Otanewainuku

The decline of North Island brown kiwi is estimated at a rate of 5-10% a year and survival of the birds to breeding age is less than 5% which is insufficient to retain the species. Monitoring of kiwi in the Western Bay from 1992 to 2001 revealed a marked drop in numbers. In the Otanewainuku Conservation Area numbers dropped from 50 birds in 1983 to just five in 2001.

The creche will be located in native bush on private land adjacent to - the Otanewainuku forest  and will serve as a nursery for up to 20 North Island brown kiwi each breeding season. The hatched chicks will be in the creche from the age of one month until they reach 1.2kg in weight when they will be released back to their source site or other wild populations.

As excess juvenile chicks become available they will be introduced into the Otanewainuku forest to boost population growth.

Funds are building for the creche project  through commitment from individuals, businesses and offers of sponsorship. About $200,000 has been raised and OKT is hopeful the fence will be built soon.

Western Bay of Plenty Council’s environmental development officer Glenn Ayo says Council is pleased to be among those who are willing to do something about the dwindling numbers of wildlife.
``Otanewainuku and the Mamakus are very close to following the Kaimai Range which, in the last 70 years, has lost kiwi, kokako, weka, blue duck and other species,’’ says Glenn.

For more information on the kiwi creche project  contact Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust, phone 07 542 0224.