Mangawhai drivers are being asked to slow down and keep an eye out for kiwi, with two new roadside signs going up on Cove Road.
The signs, erected by Piroa Conservation Trust (PCT) and Kiwi Coast, are a timely reminder that as kiwi numbers grow in Northland, the birds are increasingly turning up in places where people might not expect them – including on our roads.
One sign, for drivers heading north, is already up on the corner of Woodleigh Lane and Cove Road, at the northern entrance to The Sanctuary. The second has been installed about 250m south of the Langsview Track carpark. Both feature the distinctive silhouette of a kiwi caught in the headlights of an approaching car, with a simple message for drivers: slow down – kiwi crossing the next 5 km.
While predators and uncontrolled dogs remain the biggest threats to kiwi, last year DOC recorded 39 reported kiwi deaths from vehicle strikes across Northland. Debs Searchfield from PCT says the signs are about helping people adjust to a landscape where kiwi are becoming increasingly common.
“Having kiwi back in our neighbourhoods is something we should all be incredibly proud of,” she says.
“But kiwi don’t know where the bush ends and the road begins. Kiwi have evolved over millions of years, mostly in the absence of humans. They have no road sense, and their natural instinct is to freeze when encountering a threat, like an oncoming car. Drivers may mistake them for possums with tragic consequences.”
Kiwi often emerge from their daytime roosting burrows around sunset, and drivers travelling through the area are being urged to take extra care from dusk through to dawn.
“Drivers can make a huge difference simply by slowing down and keeping a lookout, especially after dark. If you see a kiwi on or beside the road, give it plenty of time and space to cross safely.”
For Piroa Conservation Trust and Kiwi Coast, the new signs are as much about celebrating success as raising awareness.
“Seeing kiwi return to places where they haven’t been seen for generations is fantastic,” says Ngaire Sullivan from Kiwi Coast. “Now we need to make sure we give them every chance to survive and spread. That’s something the whole community can help with.”
Featured photo: Katie Gibb from Kiwi Coast and Debs Searchfield from Piroa Conservation Trust with the new road sign (Photo credit, Piroa Conservation Trust).
