Green Kiwi Day – March 17, 2007

New Zealand always turns a little bit greener on St Patrick’s Day, but this year it may be for another reason. The celebration of Ireland’s patron saint coincides with New Zealand’s first Green Kiwi Day – a day dedicated to educating children about the importance of saving New Zealand’s native birds.

The brainchild of One Helix Trust, a charitable trust dedicated to the preservation of our endangered bird and wildlife, Green Kiwi Day aims to stimulate children into action with achievable and practical steps that they (and their parents) can take to help protect our native birds, including the kiwi, takahe, the rare blue duck, the kakapo and the endangered New Zealand falcon.

Founded by Dr. Patrick Casey, an Auckland-based veterinarian, scientist and world renowned fertility expert, One Helix Trust has already achieved much for the preservation of New Zealand native birds, in particular the takahe and the kakapo.

For example, once believed extinct, the takahe is slowly being brought back from the brink thanks to scientists sponsored by One Helix, who are investigating methods to improve takahe breeding success rates. Once applied, the results will see a strengthened breeding stock, adding critical diversity and help ensure that the distinctive cry of the takahe can once again be heard throughout New Zealand.

“By increasing our understanding into why our threatened and endangered species are dwindling, we can then put practical steps in place to enable these beautiful species to flourish once again,” says Dr Casey.

“Green Kiwi Day is all about getting kids inspired and motivated about saving our unique wildlife. As the future of our country, our children hold the key to protecting our precious species.”

By instilling passion, One Helix Trust hopes to show the children of New Zealand how they can help to make a difference, using some very simple tips”.

For example:
- Ensuring your cat has been de-sexed
- Putting a bell around your cat’s neck, and
- Planting native trees to help establish natural habitats

To learn more about native species preservation, visit www.one-helix.com

ENDS

Further background:
Seventy-million years of isolation allowed New Zealand to become the land of the most unique, extraordinary and most beautiful birds. However, with the arrival of our peoples came predators, loss of habitat, the introduction of non-native species and climatic change. Of the more than two hundred and fifty native bird species in New Zealand, many are endangered and threatened, and sadly, some have already been lost forever.

Besides Dr. Casey, One Helix Trust’s board members include eminent New Zealand scientist Sir Professor Graham Liggins, Patron of the Liggins Institute who has gained international fame for his outstanding contribution to fetal research and child health. Similar to others involved in scientific research, his work has crossed boundaries to include various animal species and in the process highlighted their plight.

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