Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Missing kiwi causes concern

Missing kiwi causes concern

For immediate release: Friday 14 December 2007

Whakatane Kiwi Project staff are worriedabout the fate of a 10 month old kiwi, after its transmitter and harness were found cut off the bird.

The transmitter and harness were found on November 29 in the crown of a ponga tree, however the bird, which is normally located in Ohope Scenic Reserve, has not been seen since.The kiwi had been released into the reserve in June this year through the Bank of New Zealand Operation Nest Egg™ programme.

Whakatane Kiwi Project Manager, Tansy Bliss said there’s real uneaseabout what has happened to the kiwi and she is after any additional information the public may have about the circumstances in which the transmitter and the bird parted company.

“Having someone tamper with endangered wildlife is incredibly disappointing. We’re really concerned about the kiwi and worry that the bird could have been caught alive and removed from the Reserve. It could have died in an illegal leg hold trap as has previously happened in Ohope Scenic Reserve, or been killed by a dog that should not have been in the kiwi zone. What is known is that the transmitter was cut off the bird and left somewhere it could be located.”

The police are aware of the incident which happened where the Burma Road passes through the Reserve, and if anyone has more information which they feel could be useful,they can contact the Department of Conservation or the local police.

“While we don’t know what’s happened in this instance, it’s timely to remind people that there are kiwi aversion training courses that they can take their dogs to. It’s also important to keep dogs on a leash – all it takes is for them to get out of sight for a couple of minutes, and a kiwi’s life can be put in danger.”

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Simon Stokes, newly appointed Manager of Land Resources for the Eastern area at Environment Bay of Plenty, is also very concerned.

“The greater Whakatane community are very proud and enthusiastic about this project,” he says. “They will be upset that this has happened. It takes an incredible amount of energy, time, and money, to raise and release a kiwi, and Tansy and Michelle do a superb job.

“Please respect the project. There are very few places in New Zealand where you have, kiwi, bush, and birdsong, on your doorstep like we do here.”

The Whakatane Kiwi Project is a partnership involving Environment Bay of Plenty, Department of Conservation, the Whakatane Kiwi Trust, the Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust, Whakatane District Council, Ngati Awa and private landowners.

ENDS


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

Gordon Campbell: On The Government’s Smokefree Laws Debacle

The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around – incompetently, as it turns out - for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable view is that the government was being deliberately misleading. Are we to think Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is a fool, or a liar? It seems rather early on in his term of office to be facing that unpleasant choice. Yet when Luxon (and senior MP Chris Bishop) tried to defend the indefensible with the same wildly inaccurate claim, there are not a lot of positive explanations left on the table.... More


 
 
Public Housing Futures: Christmas Comes Early For Landlords

New CTU analysis of the National & ACT coalition agreement has shown the cost of returning interest deductibility to landlords is an extra $900M on top of National’s original proposal. This is because it is going to be implemented earlier and faster, including retrospective rebates from April 2023. More


Green Party: Petition To Save Oil & Gas Ban

“The new Government’s plan to expand oil and gas exploration is as dangerous as it is unscientific. Whatever you think about the new government, there is simply no mandate to trash the climate. We need to come together to stop them,” says James Shaw. More

PSA: MFAT Must Reverse Decision To Remove Te Reo

MFAT's decision to remove te reo from correspondence before new Ministers are sworn in risks undermining the important progress the public sector has made in honouring te Tiriti. "We are very disappointed in what is a backward decision - it simply seems to be a Ministry bowing to the racist rhetoric we heard on the election campaign trail," says Marcia Puru. More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.