Help save kiwi for Christmas

This year BNZ has created a Christmas gift to help protect the environment through raising funds for kiwi recovery which in turn regenerates native habitats.

Bank of New Zealand is raising funds for kiwi through selling a stylish calendar that includes artwork by five up and coming designers. The Bank is giving $5.00 for each calendar sold to the BNZ Save the Kiwi Trust to help ensure the survival of the kiwi.

“The artwork is beautiful and shows each artist’s interpretation of kiwi, as an icon and as an integral part of New Zealand,” said Michelle Impey, Executive Director for the Trust. “This is one way that everyone can play a role in saving kiwi.

“And the work we are doing in kiwi recovery has a fantastic spin-off for the eco system because the more we eradicate kiwi predators from the ecosystem, the more that other native birds, animals and insects can flourish and thrive as well.”

Michelle says that Bank of New Zealand covers all the administration costs of the Trust.

“So that means every cent that is donated to kiwi – goes to kiwi,” she said.

Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust is an independent trust and partnership between Bank of New Zealand and the Department of Conservation. The Trust is responsible for public awareness and education, fundraising, sponsorship and grant allocations for kiwi recovery. DoC manages kiwi sanctuaries in Whangarei (protecting Northland’s Brown Kiwi), Moehau (protecting the Coromandel’s Brown Kiwi), Tongariro (protecting the Western North Island Brown Kiwi), Okarito (protecting Rowi, the most recently identified fifth kiwi species) and Haast (protecting the Haast Tokoeka).

“Over the past year the Trust has granted more than $760,000 to kiwi work and, in association with DoC, the Bank has contributed more than $7 million to kiwi over the past 16 years,” Michelle said. “Last year 162 Kiwi chicks were successfully raised in captivity and released back to protected habitat, through BNZ Operation Nest Egg™.”

This season, the Trust expects to hatch its 1000th chick since the programme began in 1994.

Kiwi calendars are available from any Bank of New Zealand branch throughout the country, or ordered on-line at www.savethekiwi.org.nz.

ENDS

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