Young farmers helping save kiwi

Rockstar the kiwi being cradled by Taranaki Young Farmer member Stephen Hicks.

Taranaki's Young Farmers are playing a vital role in helping rebuild the region's dwindling kiwi population.

Two juvenile kiwi were released into Egmont National Park today as part of a programme run by the Taranaki Kiwi Trust. Taranaki's Young Farmers' clubs donated $600 to help cover some of the costs associated with rearing one of the chicks.

"It costs up to $1500 to get a kiwi from an egg to a 1.2kg bird which can fend off predators and is ready for release," said Taranaki Kiwi Trust manager Michelle Bird. "These birds were incubated and hatched at Kiwi Encounter in Rotorua. They came back to Taranaki earlier this year and have been growing inside a predator-free zone at Rotokare Scenic Reserve."

Both kiwi were fitted with transmitters before entering their new home so they can be monitored using a plane.

"One of the big aims of this programme is to learn more about kiwi behaviour and how far they travel," Ms Bird said. "Currently we don't know much about kiwi on Mount Taranaki because of the difficult terrain."

"The transmitters and aerial tracking will enable us to monitor their movements and their survival rates," Ms Bird said.

The Trust has now released 75 kiwi into Egmont National Park since 2005.

"We're honoured to be a part of this important and rewarding project," said Central Taranaki Young Farmers chairman Nick Brown.

"As well as contributing to the donation, club members recently helped set 50 traps in private bush near Eltham. It's hoped that by reducing stoat and ferret numbers in the area, it will also be able to become a habitat for kiwi," he said.

Ferrets and stoats have decimated numbers of New Zealand's flightless national icon.

Undertaking the programme on Mount Taranaki would not be possible without the support of the TSB Community Trust, Kiwis for Kiwi, Curious Minds and Taranaki Electricity Trust.