Kiwi returned to Motuihe Island

Motuihe Island welcomed some new inhabitants on Saturday when nine kiwis were released as part of a long-term programme to help sustain a population of the bird on the island.

This is the first release of Little Spotted Kiwi. Conservationists plan to have a population of 40 on the island in three years.

Chairman of the Motuihe Trust John Laurence says Motuihe was one of the few pest-free islands without a kiwi population.

“It was a logical step,” says Laurence. “Now that the rabbits and cattle have been taken off the island the grass has grown long, there are lots of bugs and new trees for the kiwis to explore.”

Since predators were eradicated form the island in 2005, volunteers have been continually working to plant new trees, remove weeds and maintain walkways.

Although many of the hazards on the island have been removed, Laurence warns that dogs could still pose a risk to wildlife.

“We have an awareness programme for boaties because dogs are not permitted on the island.”

The island sanctuary, nestled in the Hauraki Gulf, is already home to several species of wildlife including the saddleback and the endangered New Zealand dotterel.

Long-time volunteer Carol Ardern says it is important to have the kiwi so close to the city because she thinks it would be “nice for more people to see them”.

Motuihe trustee Peter Whitmore says this project was a long time coming.

“Kiwis used to live all over this area but then people turned up and brought predators such as cats and rats.”
But now, he says, “the kiwis are back”.

The nine birds have come from Kapiti Island which is also where the rest of the kiwi will come from.

Entomologist Ruud Kleinpaste says “putting your eggs in different baskets” is important to the survival of the species.

“If the kiwi were all on one island they could be destroyed if that island caught on fire.”

Minister of Conservation Tim Groser says there is nothing more important than saving the national symbol.

“There is nothing that would upset New Zealanders more than to lose it.”

Motuihe follows in the footsteps of other sanctuaries like Wellington’s Kapiti Island and Tiritiri Matangi Island north of Auckland.