Gareth Hopkins

South African Gareth Hopkins has been working for five years for the Department of Conservation (DOC). He has been managing native biodiversity, including many threatened species programmes. This included managing the critically threatened Haast tokoeka, a rare kiwi species found in the remote South Westland mountains near Haast. He currently manages the Biodiversity programme in Taranaki on the North Island where his kiwi work involves building strong working relationships with iwi, community groups and businesses.

Why kiwi

Being involved with kiwi is part of Gareth’s job as Programme Manager, Biodiversity assets, with DOC.

Low point

Fortunately, says Gareth, there have not been too many low points. "It is always very sad to see a kiwi die, especially when so much time, energy and finances goes into ensuring their surival, However, the net gain and boost in overall population numbers makes us realise that the effort we put in is making all the difference."

High point

There have been a great many highlights he says. “The biggest highlight for me to date is getting kiwi back into Otago for the first time in 130 years, and the positive working relationships formed during that process.

"Seeing the Department, Nga Runaka and community groups working together with a common vision is fantastic, and I believe that’s the path that New Zealand conservation is taking now and into the future."

Hopes for the future

Gareth says that part of DOC's strategic direction is to work with others to achieve conservation outcomes. "I hope that many new interest groups, businesses and communitites become involved in kiwi conservation. The foundation is being built and the potential for involvement in the long-term recovery of our icon species is within reach now more than ever before."

Aversion Training

Avoidance training is a tool to help reduce the threat dogs pose to kiwi

Activities

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Kiwi Shop

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Did You Know?

The average incubation time for a kiwi egg is 70-80 days, more than double other birds and about the same as the gestation period of a similar sized mammal.