Research

A kiwi health check kit, and, Hugh Robertson weighing a kiwi during a health check

Research and technology to untangle kiwi's mysteriesare vital components of BNZ Save the Kiwi work.

In 1991 we knew very little about the various species. Today, thanks to surveys and monitoring, research and new technologies, we are gathering the information and tools needed to help kiwi in the most effective, efficient and sustainable way.

Universities and private enterprise are involved, along with the Department of Conservation and community-lead kiwi projects.

One example of this co-operation is the development of new technology to help field workers know when eggs and chicks are ready to be collected:

The Egg Timer™ monitors kiwi electronically and identifies when incubation has begun. This releases kiwi workers from the time-consuming task of monitoring adult kiwi pairs, and allows them to collect eggs at the optimum time.
Its successor, the Chick Timer™, helps field workers pick up newly hatched wild chicks rather than eggs, in cases where it is not practical to retrieve eggs.

An important first step is to identify just what the most pressing needs for research are – to make sure time and effort is invested in the right places.

The Kiwi Recovery Plan

The Kiwi Recovery Plan 2008–2018 has three research goals:

To clarify the number of kiwi species, subspecies and varieties, and help guide management to maintain genetic diversity.
To model population dynamics of all species.
To test tools that will allow pests to be sustainably managed and monitored over large areas.

The biggest leap forward in kiwi recovery is expected to come from new technologies – such as developing new tools and methods to make pest control over large areas more effective and affordable.

Four main research areas

Research is focused on four main areas:

The Kiwi Family

Five formal kiwi species have been identified. But it’s not that simple – find out why.

Kiwi Tales

Sniff shares his life and adventures through animated stories.

Kiwi Protection & Info

Find out what you need to know to help protect kiwi.

Did You Know?

Kiwi are known as an ‘honorary mammal’ because of their many un-bird-like characteristics. For example, while most bird bones are light and hollow, to help them fly, kiwi bones are heavy and filled with marrow, like a mammal.