The hard work of Oromahoe Farm Trust is paying off, with an increasing number of kiwi screeching through the night, where previously there was only a morepork/ruru or two.
Oromahoe Farm Trust have worked hard to reduce pest numbers and keep dogs well controlled to create a safe place for kiwi. Their efforts were recognised in 2024 when they were awarded the Northland Regional Supreme Award at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. In addition to pest control, the Trust has prioritised fencing wetlands and streams with a focus on long-term protection of the whenua and improving habitat for all native biodiversity.
Farm Manager, Dean Candy, said:
“We suspected we had kiwi here in low numbers, but it was surprising just how many were heard. This year we recorded up to 12 calls an hour at some sites, with many duets, showing that kiwi had found a partner for nesting season. Having someone dedicated to pest control once a fortnight has made a big difference, and hearing these results has inspired us to keep doing what we’re doing and intensifying our pest control plan. With help from Kiwi Coast, we’ve now started monitoring them each year as part of the Northland Kiwi Call Count Survey”.
Oromahoe Farm Trust is one of many hapū and community led projects involved in the Mid North High Value Area, which is supported by the Northland Regional Council and Kiwi Coast. The most recent Northland Kiwi Call Count Report showed that kiwi populations are either stable or increasing at all monitored Mid North sites where there is sustained pest control and good dog control, bucking the national trend of a 2% annual decline in kiwi populations.
Kiwi Coast Mid North Coordinator, Andy Mentor, pointed out the wider strategic implications of the reviving kiwi population at Oromahoe:
“Oromahoe is a key strategic area between the existing high density kiwi populations at Hupara, Opua and Waimate North. One of the Mid North High Value Area goals is to increase the kiwi population and reconnect them through ‘kiwi corridors’ so they can roam safely. So not only is this a great result for Oromahoe, but also for the long term future of the Bay of Islands kiwi.”
This recent success stands as a powerful example of what community-driven conservation and iwi-led stewardship can achieve for kiwi across Te Tai Tokerau. If you’re on a farm across Northland, and you’re not sure if you have kiwi, or you’d like some help and advice in protecting them, reach out to Kiwi Coast.
Photo: Oromahoe Farm. Credit: Whenua Oho
