Click here to download a PDF format version of The Kiwi Advocate - Issue 10 - April 2007, or read the on-line version below.
ISSUE 10 - April 2007
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The Bank’s Catchy Kiwi Campaign
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During February and March, Bank of New Zealand branches were festooned with campaign posters carrying the catch-cry – “Without your help, they’re stuffed”. |
The colour contest entries from ten talented children were chosen from among hundreds from throughout the country. Each has won a bank account with $100 deposited.
And, in early April, one lucky customer who signed up for a kiwi cheque book or kiwi EFTPOS card in February or March, will be selected as the winner of a family weekend in Rotorua, including a family pass to Kiwi Encounter at Rainbow Springs.
Sign up for a Save the Kiwi EFTPOS card and cheque book at www.bnz.co.nz/savekiwi, or by visiting any Bank of New Zealand branch. Every card owner automatically contributes $10.00 a year to the Trust, and every cheque book donates $4.00 a year.
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Kapiti Island/Whangarei Heads kiwi release day
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About 80 lucky people took part in this year’s kiwi days, a chance to thank suppporters and sponsors of the Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust for their hard work, commitment and financial contributions. Two events were held during March – on Kapiti Island, near Wellington, and at Whangarei Heads. |
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Trust News - It’s Time to Apply for Funding
If you and your kiwi group would like to put your hands up for funding from the Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust, it’s time to get your application in.
May 1st is the deadline for applications for the year beginning 1 July 2007. To find out who is eligible and how to apply visit our Funding Grants section.
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Trust News - Farewelling the Trust Chair
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On 9 March, during a small gathering at Auckland Zoo, the Hon. Chris Carter, Minister of Conservation, farewelled Peter Thodey as chair of the BNZ Save the Kiwi Trust and thanked him for his contribution to conservation. |
Peter is leaving his role as Managing Director of Bank of New Zealand to join the National Australia Bank. His successor at Bank of New Zealand, Cameron Clyne, will take over as Trust chair.
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Trust News - New Faces on the Trust
In late 2006, Bridget O’Shannessey, became a Trustee for Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi. Bridget is General Manager, People, Culture and Communications with Bank of New Zealand, and replaces Shona Bishop on the Trust. Go to our Meet the Trustees section for more details.
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Heading South for the Summer
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If you have checked out the Kiwis saving Kiwi pages on the Trust’s website, you may have noticed that a lot of Trust funding goes to vibrant community-initiated brown kiwi-saving groups in the North Island and, without a doubt, they are making a huge contribution toward helping save our national icon. |
Recently (in January, to be precise), Trust Executive Director, Michelle Impey, headed south and spent two weeks on the road, visiting great spotted kiwi projects funded by the Trust. She also called into the Department of Conservation-managed kiwi sanctuaries at Haast and Okarito on the South Island’s West Coast, and facilities where birds are held in captivity, including Willowbank Wildlife Sanctuary in Christchurch, which is part of the Trust’s Operation Nest Egg programme.
Michelle says the visit was a great opportunity to recognise the important work being done in the South Island with some of our rarest species, particularly the rowi at Okarito, and the Haast tokoeka. Populations of both number in the mere hundreds and they carry the sad label of DOC’s highest threat category - nationally critical. Michelle says the low kiwi numbers on the West Coast are matched by the low people populations.
“That means that while some great work is being done, we don’t have the same potential for community support as we have in the North Island.”
Notable examples of projects supported by the Trust can be found in efforts to save great spotted kiwi by Arthur's Pass Community Project, Paparoa Wildlife Trust and DOC Hanmer Springs, and in research being done in fiordland with tokoeka.
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Kiwi Helping to Save Kiwi – the Rimutaka Forest Park Trust
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If the Rimutaka Forest Park Trust has anything to do with it, the bush-clad hills south of Wainuiomata (near Lower Hutt), will one-day ring again with the calls of kiwi.
One of the Trust’s programmes is to introduce brown kiwi into the park, with the help of the Department of Conservation (DOC). To that end, it is trapping predators over more than 2000 hectares in the remote Turere Valley. |
Six birds (five males and one female) were released in May 2006 after a warm welcome at Wainuiomata marae. A live video link between the release site and the marae allowed more than 100 people to watch the individual birds enter their new home.
Two more females were released in August and the Trust expects three more birds to be released during 2007. Just before Christmas, the oldest male (18 years) was found dead, probably of age-related causes. Happily, this loss was balanced in February when the egg produced by a pair of the new arrivals hatched at DOC’s Mount Bruce facility in the Wairarapa. The chick will soon be transferred to Forest and Bird’s kiwi crèche at Bushy Park until it grows big enough to fend off stoats.
The Trust’s goal is 20 breeding kiwi pairs within 10 years. Its chair, Bill McCabe, says current thinking is that this is the minimum required for a self-sustaining kiwi population. The ultimate goal is to also reintroduce other native species and re-create an area of forest in a pre-European state, teeming with native wildlife.
Since kiwi were first released into Rimutaka Forest Part, a team of about 50 volunteers, including Trust members, have helped trap predators, and track and care for the kiwi. While one of the biggest challenges in the programme’s early days was establishing and maintaining a solid core of volunteer trappers, Bill says that has been achieved. Most have been recruited through word-of-mouth, via tramping clubs and other related groups, and some also contribute financially to the Trust, through membership subscriptions. Ongoing challenges are finding the funding they need to ensure the programme continues to be successful, and educating people about the risk their dogs pose to kiwi if they are allowed to roam.
If you would like to contribute to the Trust’s work, you can sponsor a trap for just $25 a year. Or you can volunteer. Contact Bill on (04) 564 5029 or email: william.mccabe@xtra.co.nz
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What’s New on the Web?
Time to go Shopping at the eKiwiShop
“Operation Nest Egg – Saving New Zealand’s Kiwi”, a non-fiction children’s book by Maria Gill, and “Kiwi – The People’s Bird”, a book by Neville Peat are both available on eKiwiShop -– www.ekiwishop.co.nz. Profits from all items purchased go directly to kiwi.
New on BNZ Save the Kiwi Trust website
Notes from a recent cat and mustelid control workshop held in Northland are available in the Information Tool kit.
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Easter Greetings
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Sniff, the world’s favourite cartoon kiwi, is on line and ready to send an Easter greeting to all your mates. You’ll find him among the great electronic postcards available in our Kiwi E-cards section. |
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You Can Help Save Kiwi
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Did you know you can help us save the kiwi by listening for kiwi calls at night. It’s the best way monitor a population’s health from year to year. Annual kiwi call monitoring programmes usually happen during May-to-June. |
Visit our Community Efforts section to see if there’s a community group in your area – they may be looking for volunteers. Or contact your local DOC office. The Kiwi Survival Guide, in the Information Toolkit also provides tips on how to monitor your population.
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Upcoming Events
What: NATIONAL KIWI HUI
Why: An annual gathering for Department of Conservation and community-based kiwi conservation groups, set up to share ideas and news about new technology, methods and successes.
When: 26 - 27April 2007
Where: Rotorua
Contact: For questions, or to register your interest, contact BNZSKT savethekiwitrust@bnz.co.nz
What: A WORKSHOP FOCUSED ON “GENERATING KIWI FUNDING”
Why: The workshop will look at current financial strategies, governance, funding and communications/marketing, with the aim of giving groups the knowledge and skills to generate funding.
When: 16 – 17 April 2007. STOP PRESS: Huge interest means this workshop has already been booked to capacity.
Where: Rotorua
Contact: Any questions contact BNZSKT savethekiwitrust@bnz.co.nz
What: KIWI FOREVER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME
Why: This programme uses the context of conservation and saving kiwi to challenge young adults to become leaders of change. It focuses on cultural and contemporary understandings of what it means to have the kiwi as our national icon, and how we have established our place in the world by being known as Kiwis. Through the programme, we also uncover the vital potential and role young adults have to affect positive outcomes for a sustainable future. The true benefits are realised when students go on to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with their communities, and build support to address issues that ultimately affect us all. The programme has been created in partnership with Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust, Untouched World Foundation, Department of Conservation, University of Waikato and Ngati Rangi.
When: 31 March – 6 April 2007
Where: Tongariro
Contact: If you are interested in finding out about the results of the programme, contact savethekiwitrust@bnz.co.nz
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Did You Know?
Community projects are playing a huge part in saving kiwi. There are approximately 60 community-based kiwi initatives throughout New Zealand, with more than 30 in Northland alone. Combined they protect approximately 50,000ha of kiwi habitat, close to the 70,000 managed by DOC.
Did you know?
Kiwi are the only bird in the world with external nostrils at the tip of their bill - just like a nose. The kiwi's sensitive nose can locae an earthworm up to three centimetres underground.
Did you know?
Kiwi are extremely territorial, especially the males, and fiercely protect their patch. Their sharp claws, and powerful legs and feet can inflict fatal wounds. Fights involve high jumps and slashing blows, kicks and tears.
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