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 are 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. Possums don’t kill kiwi, but the two animals do get into fights as they compete for nest sites, and posums often smash kiwi eggs.
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 CBD, and those who live adjacent to reserves may even have kiwi forage in their garden. There is no other urban centre in the country that has kiwi in such close proximity.
How to experience the Kiwi Capital of the World
Help our Whakatāne kiwi
Our kiwi are looked after by an amazing group of organisations and volunteers, your support will go a long way towards helping protect our local kiwi.
If you're interested in donating your time and skills, or looking to make a financial contribution there are a number of great ways to get involved.
The Whakatāne Halo project brings together all of the District's care groups and organisations that are involved with protecting our natives and the beautiful areas they live in. Check out their Facebook page to find out the latest news and ways of getting involved.
If you'd like to volunteer, the best place to start is by contacting the Whakatane Kiwi Trust team. They'll let you know what's possible.
There are a number of options for making a financial contribution, you can make a one-off or recurring donation or 'Sponsor a trap'. For a yearly fee you get to fund your very own trap in one of our Kiwi neighbourhoods, you can monitor your 'traps catches' online so you'll see the results.
#KiwiCapital
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