Landowners & Farmers

A bounday fence on a farm, and, a cattle stop

Kiwi live in a huge variety of places – from native forest and scrub, to rough farmland and exotic pine forests, sand dunes and snow-covered tussocks.

If you own, manage or farm land in a place where kiwi live, there are many things you can do to help care for these birds.

What you can do

First, find out if you have kiwi in your area.
Keep your dogs under close control day and night. Never let them run loose and unsupervised.
Impound any dogs that are on your property without permission.
If you allow hunters on your land, make sure all of their dogs have received kiwi avoidance training.
Fence stock out of places kiwi are known to live.
Leave escape routes for kiwi if clearing land.
If you have cattle stops, pits or holes on your land, provide an escape ramp in case a kiwi falls in.
If you have a swimming pool, make sure its fence will keep kiwi out so birds don’t drown.
Control kiwi predators, such as possums, pigs, wild cats, stoats and ferrets.
Consider covenants or other protection for areas of native forest and shrubland. Nga Whenua Rāhui kawanata (covenants) are an option for Māori landowners. Funding for private land owners is also available through the Biodiversity Condition and Biodiversity Advice funds.
Let neighbours and visitors know that kiwi live on your land.
Contact your Department of Conservation area office and ask someone to come and talk with your community about kiwi.

What your donation can buy ...

$1 - 100 worms to feed 1 kiwi chick for 1 week

$10 - Trapping one hectare for one year

$20 - A kiwi zone sign to warn people to keep dogs away

$75 - Training one dog to avoid kiwi

$300 - One Smart transmitter

$1,200 - The first year of life for one BNZ Operation Nest Egg™ chick

$2,500 - One receiver to pick up transponder signals

Did You Know?

Rowi used to be called Okarito brown kiwi. They were identified as a separate species in 2003. Rowi is the local Ngai Tahu name.