Her school enjoyed a highly entertaining visit from the Bugman, plus she has received a basket full of kiwi goodies, including kiwi chocolates, books, a drink bottle and a gift certificate so she can shop online at Kiwi Shop.

Thank you to everyone who entered!

The role will be supervised by the senior technician (CWMC) and involve:
• Animal husbandry at our captive animal research facility
• Assisting with logistics of field trials
• Participation in a number projects with researchers
• Maintaining equipment for field and laboratory use

The skills required:
• Knowledge of  animal husbandry and animal handling techniques is desired
• An appreciation of animal ethics and humaneness
• Some experience with traps, poisons, radio-collars, field work, biodiversity monitoring
• Practical ability to help  extend and maintain our captive animal research facility
• High level of physical fitness, and acumen for field work

The applicant should have:
• Degree in wildlife management, ecology or equivalent work experience in wildlife management
• A full NZ drivers license
• Experience driving off-road vehicles and quad bikes would be an advantage

The position will be full time and based at Lincoln University. Some travel around NZ is necessary.

Applications Marked 'Confidential' or enquiries to:

o Email CharlesEason@lincoln.ac.nz">CharlesEason@lincoln.ac.nz
o Phone  021 224 0028

Closing date for applications is 30th Nov  2011.

Matarakau is a male who was first found as a juvenile in March 2002. The DOC Whangarei Kiwi team tracked Matarakau from 2002 until 2006. In 2006 he was found with an egg which he successfully hatched. Matarakau had his transmitter removed in January 2007.

Salote is a feisty female who was first tagged as a chick in Purua in January 2000. Salote was tracked from 2000 until 2008 when she was last handled and had her transmitter changed. Her transmitter failed soon after this, and she had not been seen since.

This week Pete and Rua found these two kiwi together, cuddled up in a love nest. Both kiwi were in good condition and thriving in the habitat at Purua.
 
“It is amazing that both of these kiwi managed to live through the nightmare of 2008, when uncontrolled dogs killed at least seven kiwi within Purua. Dogs are the number one killer of kiwi in Northland, and almost all dog-kiwi encounters are fatal. The lack of a sternum makes kiwi especially vulnerable to dogs. Even dogs that don’t usually try to hunt can easily kill a kiwi by picking it up gently or giving it a playful nudge. I am hoping that finding these two together means there will be more little kiwi on the way,

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The programme for the day will include an update on predator control issues, monitoring, dog advocacy, kiwi/egg first aid, kiwi probe/feathers/poo/footprint identification and launch of recently completed kiwi aversion advocacy CD.  It will also be your opportunity to see a live kiwi if you haven't yet, as Sparky the kiwi and Robert Webb from the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre will be attending.

A final agenda will be sent out closer to the day.

For catering and organisational purposes, or for further information, please contact Clea Gardiner, Northland Regional Kiwi Co-ordinator. 

Email: cleaandglen@xnet.co.nz

• Managing our captive animal research facility

• Managing the planning and logistics of field trials

• Co-coordinating a number of projects and resources with researchers

• Providing input and guidance on the development of new pest control and animal monitoring tools

• Liaising industry collaborators, landowners and our key stakeholders

• Managing contractors who live-traps animals for the laboratory and assist with field trials

• Maintaining equipment for field and laboratory use

The skills required:

• Knowledge of pest control in New Zealand, animal husbandry, animal handling techniques and biodiversity monitoring

• An understanding of animal ethics and humaneness

• The ability to use traps, poisons, radio-collars and to plan and conduct animal monitoring and control studies

• Practical skills to undertake construction to extend and maintain our captive animal research facility

• The ability to undertake field work with a relatively high level of physical fitness

• Practical field experience in vertebrate pest control and animal monitoring

• The ability to assist researchers with work plan development

The applicant should have:
• Graduate or technical qualifications in ecology, zoology or practical experience in wildlife management or the vertebrate pest control industry

• A full NZ drivers license

• Experience driving off-road vehicles and quad bikes would be an advantage

• Good practical skills and initiative

The position will be full time and based at Lincoln University. Some travel around NZ is necessary.

Applications Marked 'Confidential' or enquiries to:

o Email Charles Eason
o Phone   021 224 0028

Closing date for applications is 30th Nov  2011.

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Rainbow Springs’ ten baby tuatara siblings are now on display to the public and to celebrate, the team has created a series of quirky Trademe listings where people can bid for the right to name them.

Promoted as the ‘next best thing to having your own pet dinosaur’, the winners of the three listings each get to name two of the baby tuatara and will also receive a family pass to Rainbow Springs and have a photo opportunity with their named tuatara.

The tuatara is one of the oldest animals on the planet, and the closest living relative to the dinosaur. Native to New Zealand, they are extremely rare and hard to breed.

“Obviously we can’t give them to you to take home but you can be assured that your own little ‘dinosaurs’ will be well looked after at Rainbow Springs” reads the auction.

The funds raised from the winning bids will go to further the conservation, education and captive breeding programme for tuatara at Rainbow Springs. All three of the auctions are already sitting at over $200.

The auctions close at about 6.30pm on Friday 21st October so there is still time for people to make a bid and secure the rights to name a pair of creatures who, with a lifespan of over 100 years, will most likely outlive them.

The ten baby tuatara were born in April this year after a 184 day incubation period.

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Win Your Airfares Back

NZ Holiday Card, supporting sponsor of BNZ Save the Kiwi Trust, is offering you the chance to win back your airfares to New Zealand!

All you have to do to enter is upload photos of yourself somewhere in New Zealand holding your NZ Holidaycard, you can upload up to 5 photos below.  The best photo will win.  Easy!!

See details on their website at www.nzholidaycard.co.nz/user/snap

“It is wonderful to be able to support the recovery of the Haast tokoeka with a facility so close to their natural range.” Wildlife Centre owner Richard Benton said.

The West Coast Wildlife Centre opened in November 2010 and is a public private partnership with the Department of Conservation.  It is home to the incubation and captive rearing program for New Zealand's most endangered kiwi the rowi and Haast tokoeka.  The West Coast Wildlife Centre plays a key role in BNZ Operation Nest Egg by providing specialist husbandry care to help save the rowi and Haast tokoeka from extinction.

Kim Bryan-Walker, kiwi ranger at the Wildlife Centre, says “Having the birds hatching at the centre now is very exciting. A ‘backstage pass’ to the Wildlife Centre provides a rare chance for visitors to see one of New Zealand’s rarest kiwi, from one of the most remote places in the country.”

The Haast tokoeka is a rare subspecies of kiwi, related to the Stewart Island and Fiordland tokoeka. Over half the population is found within the Haast Kiwi Sanctuary, an area of 11400 ha between the Waiatoto and Arawhata Rivers, south of Haast in South Westland.

While the adult tokoeka can defend themselves from attack

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Where: A trainer will be in the Catchpool Valley, Rimutaka Forest Park, Wainuiomata, Wellington

When: 5 -6 November

To register or for more information: 

Email Melody McLaughlin

Or call 04 5646213  or  0274524982