Kapowai Kiwi Group protecting the Brown Kiwi in Coromandel NZ – The Kapowai Kiwi Group provides a community-based, low cost and low intervention solution to protecting a small Coromandel Brown Kiwi population in the Kapowai Valley.

Kapowai Kiwi Group

COROGLEN – COROMANDEL PENINSULA – NEW ZEALAND

Kapowai Kiwi Group (KKG) was established by a small group of landowners in the Kapowai Valley in 2002. They progressively passed the baton to others and none of the originals remain. KKG is a micro group of six active members who volunteer their time and raise funds to employ a contract trapper.

What we do

KKG services 280 traps over 30 km in the Kapowai Valley and Coroglen Forest (some 3000 hectares) targeting stoats, weasels and rats. On average, KKG catches 60 stoats per annum and around 250 rats.

An annual kiwi listening program during the winter breeding season demonstrates that the kiwi population has been maintained or slightly increased over the last 17 years.

Operation Nest Egg (ONE)

KKG has recently joined the Operation Nest Egg (ONE) project to locate and fit monitors to male kiwi, to lift eggs from the brooding male in winter, and to transport the eggs to Auckland Zoo or Wairakei.

The aim is to hatch and raise the chicks in a stoat-free environment, and convey the half-grown birds to Motutapu Island, now predator-free. Eventually, some of these birds will be returned to the Coromandel.

ONE results in 95% survival of kiwi chicks compared to around 10% in the wild.

Kiwi Avoidance Training Program

Dogs are a significant threat to Kiwi, and there is a need to raise public awareness about the damage that roaming dogs can and are doing.

Kiwi are particularly vulnerable to roaming dogs as they have a very strong scent, making it easy to locate them. It is very difficult to quantify the number of Kiwi that are killed or injured by dogs, as most events probably occur in the bush and are never discovered.

If you are interested in getting your dog trained, please contact any of the trainers listed on the website below.

Funding / Supporters

We are indebted to landowners who allow and support our activities, to Wood Marketing Services Ltd who contribute to our funding, and to Waikato Regional Council, Save the kiwi (formerly Kiwis for kiwi), Pub Charity, and World Wildlife Fund who provide funding or have done in the past.

Any funds donated to our group ensure that our efforts can continue and all the gains we have made are not lost. The Kiwi in our area need as much help as they can get, and we really appreciate any donations that are contributed.