The Trust, which has 110 members, helps the Department of Conservation (DOC) on several fronts, working on projects linked to public facilities and services in the park.

One of the Trust’s projects focuses on Brown Kiwi.  It began in 2002 when DOC’s co-ordinator for the Kiwi Recovery Group, Paul Jansen, impressed with the success of the Trust’s voluntary predator control, suggested working towards the reintroduction of kiwi into the park. The department authorised the release of kiwi in October 2005.

A team of about 50 volunteers, some of them Trust members, have volunteered their time to help with predator trapping.  A smaller group of Trust members is responsible for organising the release and care of the birds, as well as community relations.

The Trust hopes the release of Brown Kiwi in 2005 is the first of several reintroductions of the birds into the park.  It aims to have at least 10 pairs established over the next 10 years, which should produce sufficient young birds that enough will survive to ensure the populations grows. The ultimate goal is to also reintroduce other native species and create an area of forest in its pre-European state, teeming with native wildlife.

Size of Area under Protection

The area under protection is the Turere Valley, a remote area of Rimutaka Forest Park. Its size is more than 1000 hectares.

Biggest Challenges

One of the biggest challenges is maintaining a solid core of volunteer trappers, and recruiting new ones who will stay for the long haul.

Sourcing and applying for sufficient funding is another challenge.

A third challenge is educating the public about the risk their dogs pose to kiwi, and that they need to be under control at all times.

Biggest Success

The greatest success for the Trust is having sufficient volunteers with a strong sense of commitment, ownership and involvement in the kiwi work, who are happy to keep giving their time to help ensure the wellbeing of kiwi.  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.

Funding

The Rimutaka Forest Park Trust is grateful for funding from Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi fund, Pub Charity Inc, the Community Trust of Wellington, the Hutt City Council, the National Parks and Conservation Foundation, Swazi Apparel Ltd, and Wainuiomata Community Board.

The One Most Important Thing

The one piece of advice the group would give others starting a similar project is to keep focused on providing for the wellbeing of the kiwis entrusted to our care.

Contact Details

The Trust is always looking for volunteers. Anyone wanting to volunteer her or his time or expertise is welcome to contact:

Bill McCabe
130 Hine Rd, Wainuiomata
Phone: 04 564 5029
Email: william.mccabe@xtra.co.nz

Melody McLaughlin
Phone: 04 564 6213
Email: bidi@xtra.co.nz

Margaret Willard
Phone: 04 973 1378
Email: margwill@paradise.net.nz

The Trust’s postal address is:
P.O. Box 38 564
Wellington Mail Centre
PETONE

Website: www.rimutakatrust.org.nz