The 2026 Kiwi Link HVA Annual Report is now out – showcasing another successful year of community-led conservation across approximately 15,000 hectares in eastern Whangārei.
Kiwi Link Coordinator, Ngaire Sullivan, commented:
“Ten years of Kiwi Link show what can be achieved when landowners, hapū, community groups and agencies work together to remove introduced animal and plant pests to revitalise native ecosystems at a landscape scale.“
During 2025, 10,075 pests were trapped across the Kiwi Link area, taking the ten-year grand tally to 77,463. Controlled pulses of toxins complemented the trapping efforts, with further bait stations added to infill gaps and expand the network.
The report highlighted ecological outcome monitoring results demonstrating Kiwi Link’s effectiveness. Kiwi Coast Science Advisor, Katie Gibb, commented on the positive effects of sustained pest control on local native bird populations, with Five-minute Native Bird Count data showing:
“Tūī have reached their highest recorded abundance since monitoring began in 2018. Riroriro/grey warbler and kōtare/kingfisher remain well above their 2018 baseline, with kōtare showing a particularly steady, sustained increase across the monitoring period. Overall, the 2025 results point to a stable, functioning bird community across the Kiwi Link area.”
Kiwi call count data also showed exciting results. For the first time, Kiwi Link’s kiwi call count data was graphed in the Northland Kiwi Call Count Survey Report, showing an increase to a mean rate of 2.31 calls/hour, up from 1.97 calls/hour in 2024.
Katie commented: “In general Kiwi Link shows an statistically significant positive increase in kiwi call rates since monitoring began, with recent years recording the highest values observed for this area.”
As kiwi had been lost from most of the area before the project began, these results may seem modest compared with some other areas of Northland. However, they represent the result of years of sustained pest control and dedicated dog control — and the return and recovery of kiwi across this landscape.
The report also features a new illustrated map showing monitored kiwi movements over time from their release sites in Ōwhiwa. The map provides a powerful visual demonstration of kiwi dispersal — and shows just how far kiwi can travel when given a safe, connected landscape in which to establish new territories.
Ngaire offered thanks on behalf of Kiwi Link for the generous support of funders and sponsors, and the commitment of the landowners, hapū and community groups working across the landscape.
“We gratefully acknowledge the support of Northland Regional Council, and sponsors Airzone and EUGY, whose contributions help make this long-term, landscape-scale conservation work possible.
Finally, heartfelt thanks to the many private landowners, professional trappers, volunteers and land managers who have dedicated countless hours to servicing traps, refilling bait stations, undertaking bird monitoring and collecting valuable ecological data.
Kiwi Link’s native forests, wetlands and wildlife are increasingly revitalised thanks to your long-term commitment and hard work.”
