‘Mohaka’ an adult male kiwi was found dead this month at Boundary Stream Mainland Island in northern Hawke’s Bay, after a futile battle with a dog. Mohaka was one of a number of kiwi re-introduced to Boundary Stream in recent years as part of Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery.

Department of Conservation (DOC) Team Leader at Boundary Stream, Tamsin Ward-Smith said today that Mohaka arrived at Boundary Stream as a young juvenile kiwi and was released with help from Mohaka School students, to much celebration.

“After a few months settling in, Mohaka eventually paired with a female kiwi called Marangai in November 2002. Both of these kiwi originally came from the Kaweka Forest Park,” Ms Ward-Smith said.

The birds had been hatched and raised from eggs at Rainbow Springs in Rotorua as part of Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery’s Operation Nest Egg. This programme involves the removal of kiwi eggs from nests in the wild so chicks can be hatched and raised until the birds are strong enough to cope with most of the predators they encounter when they are returned to the forest.

The pair had their first nesting attempt in June 2004, and a second attempt in October 2004, both of which were unsuccessful as the eggs were infertile which is sometimes the case for the first-time kiwi nest. This year the team at Boundary Stream was hopeful the pair would have their first chicks.

Mohaka’s mangled body was found early on Monday 13th December. Staff were alerted after the small radio-transmitter he was carrying indicated that he had not moved for 24 hours. His spine was severed and ribcage crushed. His body had huge bare patches missing hunks of feathers, and he was covered in bruising and bite marks which were the size of a dogs canines.

“I still can not understand why people do not realize the damage that their dog can do to a kiwi. It is sickening to see what had been a healthy bird only two weeks earlier in that mutilated state.

“The loss of this bird is also a major set-back – we are working here towards getting a self-sustaining population of kiwi at Boundary Stream Mainland Island. That will not happen if we lose adult breeding birds. There is now an unpaired female out there,” Ms Ward-Smith said.

Hunting and dogs are not permitted in Boundary Stream Mainland Island. The loss of ‘Mohaka’ highlights a problem of dogs killing kiwi which has become of increasing concern in the East Coast Hawke’s Bay Conservancy over the last year according to Community Relations Manager, Brett Butland.

“Since 2003, kiwi have also been killed by dogs in Te Urewera National Park and in the Kaweka Forest Park. For this reason, from 1st May 2005 a number of conditions relating to the taking of dogs into Scenic Reserves, Conservation or Forest Parks and named Conservation Areas in the East Coast Hawke’s Bay Conservancy will come into force,” Mr Butland said.

The main thrust of the new requirements is that all hunting dogs taken into public conservation areas will need a permit and must be certified as being bird safe. This will require certification by approved assessors that the dog meets minimum behaviour standards and has completed avian aversion training. DOC recognizes the valuable contribution that hunters make to controlling deer and pig numbers in conservation areas, and that trained well-managed dogs can increase the effectiveness of hunters.

“We cannot allow more kiwi to be killed by dogs. By introducing these measures, we are seeking to improve management of hunting dogs in public conservation areas and raise awareness of the effect dogs can have on kiwi. Unfortunately, some irresponsible hunters refuse to abide by any rules and ignore the fact that some areas such as Boundary Stream, are permanently off limits to dogs. But our hope is that increasing awareness of just how vulnerable these iconic birds are to dog attack will reinforce responsible behaviour from dog owners,” Mr Butland said.

DOC kiwi information:

Paul Jansen - Phone: (04) 471 3236 or 025 410 026

DOC media liaison:

Jill Hudson - Phone: (06) 869 0468 or 027 495 7031

Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery Trust:

Kieron Goodwin - Phone: (09) 375 1084 or 029 478 4610