One of the Kiwi Trusts key objectives is to suppress rat, possum and mustelid populations in order to protect kiwi and kōkako. The pest management programme also has the associated benefit of providing a level of protection to the Ōtanewainuku indigenous flora and fauna in general.   An extensive trapping network is currently in place…

We had a great turnout at the last workday in January with 29 enthusiastic volunteers collectively helping out and checking the trap lines throughout the forest. It was fantastic to see six new volunteers come along and be part of the Ōtanewainuku conservation experience. Good on you!  One volunteer said he really enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere of…

The Trust has over 180 km of trap and bait station lines250 stoat trap tunnels2142 bait stations within 1200ha of the Ōtanewainuku Conservation AreaOriginally estimated to be around 30 million Kiwi in NZ. Now around 70,000North Island Brown Eastern Taxon kiwi estimated to be about 7,000Kiwi eggs and chicks get eaten by predators where there…

Kōkako bird numbers in the Ōtanewainuku forest have increased by 15 since 2018 according to the latest survey conducted recently by the Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust. Trust Chairman Bruce Fraser said that teams of volunteers under the guidance of kōkako experts spent two weeks in the forest spotting birds and recording territories. “Before the impact of…

During level 4 we weren’t able to travel to the forest – this has meant no kiwi work and no pest control. The Department of Conservation has now advised us that ‘work that can be done safely (and) that is important to high priority conservation values’ may be able to go ahead during Level 3.…