East Taranaki Environmental Trust

At the marae, during a kiwi release and Karen and Bob Schumacher with Te Wera, a western brown kiwi

The East Taranaki Environment Trust was set up by Karen and Bob Schumacher in 2005.

It is a registered charitable trust dedicated to protecting kiwis and their forest home through pest management. It operates northeast of Mount Egmont/Taranaki, about 30 kilometres east of Inglewood, and its main focus is to protect native species in their original natural locations.

Those species include western brown kiwi, New Zealand falcon/karearea, kereru, fernbird/matata, North Island robin/toutouwai, tui, bellbird/korimako, whitehead/tataeko, bats/pekapeka and kokopu.

The Trust's vision is to have 500 pair of kiwi under protected from predators by 2015.

The Trust works closely with conservation experts from different agencies and organisations, including the Department of Conservation (DOC), Taranaki Regional Council and WWF – New Zealand, to ensure best practices are used. It pioneers innovative new technologies to bring pest populations under control. Along with its work on kiwi, the Trust is also working to re-introduce kokako.

Size of area under protection

The Trust manages about 13,000 hectares of land, both private and public. Along with protecting kiwi—our national icon—it is also committed to increasing biodiversity by having a landscape ecosystem management philosophy. Kiwi numbers are estimated to be 350 pairs. The project is one of the priority sites for the western brown kiwi in the taxon plan.

Biggest challenge

Like all community projects, Karen says the challenge is to ensure financial sustainability. Long term funding is critical for the success and survival of kiwi in Taranaki.

Biggest successes

Members of the ‘A Team’ who check 400 stoat boxes each month - Photo: East Taranaki Environment Trust ‘Locals, locals, locals. Community support would have to be the biggest success of this project,’ Karen says. ‘It has been gratifying to have the local landowners, Taranaki community, iwi, Taranaki Regional Council, Stratford District Council, New Plymouth District Council and DOC all supporting this project.’ As well, the Trust has partnership relations with the DOC, the regional council and the Waitara Maori Women’s Welfare League.

‘Our ecosystem management has high levels of acceptance with the diverse range of people and groups we deal with,’ Karen says. ‘It has made it easier for everyone to come on board.’
The Trust now also has an excellent track and hut network, which makes the ground work successful.

The one most important thing

The one most important thing, says Karen, is being able to make a difference to the kiwi population in Taranaki. It's the reports and sightings of increasing kiwi numbers.

In mid-2007, the Trust received an environmental award from the Taranaki Regional Council for its work protecting and enhancing biodiversity.

Contact details

If you would like to learn more about the East Taranaki Environment Trust and its work, or volunteer your efforts, you can contact Karen Schumacher, at:
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: 06 756 8064
Postal address: 556 Upper Durham Road, RD 8, Inglewood. Taranaki

Activities

Loads of fun activities to enjoy for everyone (young and old)

Kiwi Recovery Group

The Kiwi Recovery Group provides technical advice to support field workers.

New Zealand’s Icon

How kiwi came to be New Zealand’s unofficial icon – it may all be thanks to shoe polish.

Did You Know?

Kiwi are usually monogamous – pairing for up to 30 years – and the female is bigger and dominates the male. This monogamy and role reversal is rare among birds.