In Whakatāne, kiwi are literally in our backyard; we can walk off the pavement into the bush and be in kiwi territory.
Kiwi hold a special place in the hearts of New Zealanders. The native bird is a national icon, and many New Zealanders refer to themselves as Kiwis.
Kiwi are largely nocturnal birds and flightless, with only small wings and a small tail. They have an exceptional sense of smell, with nostrils placed near the tip of their long bill.
These birds used to be plentiful, but they have become threatened because of introduced pests and predators. Just five percent of kiwi chicks in the wild make it to adulthood; most kiwi chicks are killed by predators, including stoats, ferrets, dogs and cats.
With help from the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust, the Whakatāne Kiwi Project, and the community, kiwi in the Whakatāne District are prospering. Kiwi calls can be heard from the town centre, and those who live adjacent to reserves may even have kiwi forage in their garden. There is no other urban area in the country that has kiwi in such close proximity.
