Our First Kiwi Release 14 March 2007

The culmination of just over four years of trapping pests and many thousand volunteer hours, cutting lines, making traps, licking envelopes, planning meetings, report writing and more!

Trustee and DOC project manager Dave Wills carefully removes Maui from her travelling box. Maui and Whitu originated from the Bay of Plenty. They have been in Willowbank in Christchurch where they have been part of a breeding programme. Click here to see more photos taken at the kiwi release.

A big thank you to all our volunteers - stoat and rat trappers, Trustees, families, work day line cutters and rat trap makers, envelope stuffers and stampers, Operations Committee members and those who keep the house running when our volunteers are working for our special patch of bush. Together we are making a difference!

Founding Trustees at blessing 22 March 2003

Back row: Jim Pendergrast (Farmer and Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust founder), John Mullany (Retired Accountant of Tauranga), Dave Wills (Conservation Ranger of Te Puke), Taane (Dan) Heke Kaiawha (Retired, of Ohauiti Patron and Kaumata), Mark Dean (Nursery Owner, of Oropi), and Sharon Seager (Quality Assurance Coordinator, of Maketu).

Front row : Moana Hodge (Designer, of Oropi), Neale Blaymires (Manufacturer, of Papamoa) and Glen Ayo (Student, of Papamoa).

Sadly our Kaumatua Dan Heke-Kaiawha passed away. He is replaced on the Trust by his grandson Desmond Heke. Trustees Glen Ayo and Neale Blaymires stepped down in 2006. We welcome Carole Long and Dave Edwards to the Trust Board.

A big thank you to the kids at Howick Kindy crafting away to raise funds to save kiwi. They've raised many hundreds of dollars for us over the last few years. Well done kids!

The new look stoat trap (right)

DoC has a $6.6 million dollar, five year stoat research programme. Early research suggests that yellow tunnel covers are much more attractive to stoats.

Volunteers fill in info sheets when they have a catch. (Left)

Photo Terry Williams March 2003

Photo Jan Pendergrast November 2002

"Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work they go..."

Left to Right: Christine Martin, Phil Commins (the trapping contractor) Neale Blaymires (with hat) Dave Edwards, Allan Grabham and Glenn Ayo head off into the bush to clear the lines so the first stoat traps can be laid.

The trapping lines are marked with pink triangle markers (right)

Originally we baited the traps with eggs. Now we are using salted rabbit meat.

Neale Blaymires shows how every now and then we get lucky and get two stoats caught in the same tunnel.