Letter to the Editor, Thursday July 16, 2015

Make that 14

Re your front page article (July 14), about the South Kerikeri Inlet Landcare Kiwi Conservation Group reporting the death of seven kiwi in the last two months to dogs.

As a trapper at the Whakaangi Landcare Project at Hihi, I am spitting tacks over the loss of kiwi to dogs. We have also lost seven kiwi in the same timeframe as the Kerikeri group.

These birds have been destroyed by dogs. Once again, some have been sent away to have this fact verified.

What the hell is wrong with dog owners when they cannot (will not) keep their dogs out of these conservation areas, especially when it is widely known that it is a dog-free zone?

When you consider the amount of voluntary hours by land owners and others, fundraising etc to pay for trappers and equipment to preserve this peninsular into something that is a showcase for the Far North, you wonder about the integrity and mentality of the dog owners.

The main thrust is to protect the kiwi and the supporting native wildlife by eradicating the pests (mustelids, possums, rats, cats). Nigh on a decade of committed hard work has been undertaken by dedicated professional and volunteer stalwarts.

Annually the kiwi call monitors sit out at night to monitor the kiwi calls, all ignored and trodden on by a few ignorant and selfish dog owners. Volunteer kiwi call monitors are gutted by the news of kiwi deaths after listening to their amazing calls.

These projects are very useful for educating our local children - their faces say it all, especially when they are introduced to a live kiwi, or hear them calling. It makes the job so totally worthwhile.

Out of all the predators that are taken care of to allow the kiwi survival, the dogs are the easiest to control, if only owners would face up to their responsibilities.

T HIGGINSON

Kaiaka