Hawke's Bay conservation programme's new Napier kiwi creche helps boost stocks

Tai, a male juvenile kiwi, was the last kiwi to be released. Pictured is Bev Wilkinson, Napier Kiwi Creche's husbandry manager, with five-year old Mea Strachan. Photo / Supplied

A conservation programme for kiwi is taking off in Hawke's Bay, thanks in part to the opening of a creche in Napier dedicated to looking after chicks.

The Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust has returned a record 53 juvenile kiwi to Hawke's Bay hinterland following its 2020/2021 egg-lifting season, up nine on its previous best.

Tai, a male juvenile kiwi, was the last of the Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust's 53 kiwi from the 2020/2021 egg collection season to be returned to the forests of the Trust's North Island properties.

He was handed over by Bev Wilkinson, husbandry manager at Kiwis for kiwi's Napier Kiwi Creche, with some help from five-year old Mea Strachan.

The Napier Kiwi Creche was launched in October 2020, and the first birds arrived in mid to late October.

Wilkinson said the National Kiwi Hatchery looked after the birds up until they were between three and four weeks old.

"Then we become their temporary home for roughly three months, until the birds are about 1kg."

She said the 1kg part was of utmost importance.

"Stoats are the biggest threat to kiwi chicks, but when the chicks reach the weight of 1kg, they are big enough to fight the stoats," she said.

This kiwi sitting in his bowl is known as "Uno". Photo / Supplied

The creche has a capacity of between 18 to 20 chicks, and for the whole season the creche cared for 51 chicks.

"The season started in October and ended on Wednesday," Wilkinson said.

"Once the chicks are released into the wild some will be tagged and monitored.

"Eggs will be taken from these chicks and sent to the hatchery, it will be circular loop."
She said the creche was now in the off season.

"It's been a really really successful season, especially because it's the first season of operation," she said.

"Juvenile chicks will arrive end of September beginning of October. Between now and October there is plenty of operational stuff to do, and we need to do lots of cleaning."

The result follows a disappointing season last year in which dry conditions resulted in kiwi right across the North Island producing fewer eggs than normal.

Conditions at the Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust's property in the Maungataniwha Native Forest during the second half of the season mirrored those of last year, dry and difficult for breeding kiwi.

The number of eggs collected during this period was similar to the same time last year, significantly lower than in previous years.

Despite this the Trust was able to send 63 viable eggs to the incubation unit at the National Kiwi Hatchery in Rotorua over the full course of the season. Its previous record was 62 viable eggs in a season.

Trust staffer Barry Crene was pleased with the results.

"We have invested significantly in, and put a lot of effort into, catching and radio-tagging new kiwi at Maungataniwha," Crene said.

"This has yielded excellent results in what would otherwise have been another disappointing year," he said.

A particularly chilly evening made these two kiwi huddle together to stay warm. Photo / Supplied

The Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust has carved out a name for itself as one of the most successful kiwi conservation initiatives in the country.

Trust Chairman Simon Hall said its work with kiwi could not happen without the help and investment from its conservation partners.

"Kiwi conservation is not just about partnerships, it's about community," Hall said.

"It's about friends, neighbours and our volunteers banding together to protect our national icon. Frequently in the dark and the cold and the pouring rain. They do it for love – literally."