In Northland alone, at least 12 kiwi projects have begun since 1999. 

In one, in Doubtless Bay, two Maori communities joined together to protect the steep hills running between them.  Signs urge people to control their dogs in this kiwi area.  And about 600 hectares are now a "no go zone" for pig hunting or the removal of native plants.

New Zealand’s very first community-initiated kiwi sanctuary began in 1995 – on Kuaotunu peninsula, in the Coromandel.  Volunteers do most of the extensive predator control on both public and private land in this 5,000-hectare kiwi sanctuary. 

Not long after, in 1995, the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Trust was set up to restore 252-hectare of native forest in the middle of Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city.  The Karori Wildlife Sanctuary is now home to more than 50 Little Spotted Kiwi and was opened to the public in 2001.

More recently, communities in Kerikeri, Russell, Cambridge, Whenuakite and Whangarei Heads, to name but a few, have begun work to protect habitat and remove predators from large tracts of forest and farmland.

How the Bank of New Zealand Save  the Kiwi Trust Can Help

When New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark, launched the Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery Trust in November 2002, she particularly noted its focus on enabling and encouraging iwi, communities and businesses to become even more involved.

Two ways the Trust is providing opportunities are through the Corporate Partner Programme and through funding for projects initiated by communities and iwi.

Where Do You Begin?

If you are interested in setting up a save the kiwi initiative, you may be interested to read about the experiences of communities at Whangarei Heads and the Coromandel.

You might also like to check over some pointers on where to begin.  And there are buckets of information about kiwi and kiwi management in the Information Toolkit.