It’s been an amazing first five years of Kiwi Coast! Collating all the information together, the Kiwi Coast Trust has released a report outlining the key outcomes and achievements of the collaborative initiative from 2013 – 2018.
A few of the highlights include:
- Non-stop momentum – Kiwi Coast continues to expand as existing projects link in and new groups start. The Kiwi Coast has grown to operate at a regional scale, linking projects over 291km from Mangawhai at the southern limit of the Northland region to the Aupouri Peninsula in the Far North.
- As at June 30, 2018, 120 entities had linked into the Kiwi Coast, 108 of which are community-led groups and active projects. Collectively, these groups and projects manage 146,801 hectares.
- To match the growth of the Kiwi Coast, coordination has increased from one part time coordinator to a full time Kiwi Coast Coordinator and full time dedicated Mid North Coordinator.
- Strategic support of predator control in key areas has linked projects with continuous trapping networks across multiple groups, helping kiwi to flourish and move safely in the wild – we’re on track to achieve NZ’s first kiwi corridor!
- Collated data shows 229,372 animal pests were caught in traps by groups and projects involved in the Kiwi Coast over the last five years and more than 1,000 pests are now being removed from the Kiwi Coast each week.
- 34 trapper training workshops, practical field trips and regional seminars were held, building community skills and capacity to reduce pests
- 9,685 people attended Kiwi Coast supported events and workshops. These events also provided prime opportunities to deliver key messages around kiwi recovery and the importance of good dog control to kiwi survival.
- Kiwi numbers continued to stabilise and climb in managed areas on the Kiwi Coast, building on the last two decades of hard work in Northland.
- Indicator monitoring of species such as pateke demonstrated the wider ecological benefit of pest control carried out in the name of kiwi
- Transitioning from founding relationships with NZ Landcare Trust and Reconnecting Northland to the formation of the Kiwi Coast Charitable Trust and partnership with Northland Regional Council saw the Kiwi Coast come of age.
Moving forward, a key priority of the Kiwi Coast Trust over the next five years is to secure additional resources to ensure that gains made to date in community, iwi and hapu-led kiwi recovery in Northland are not only sustained but enabled to grow. Means to achieve this have been identified in the Kiwi Coast 2017 – 2022 Strategic Plan.
Kiwi Coast Coordinator Ngaire Sullivan concludes: “It’s an absolute privilege to be part of Kiwi Coast and be involved in the amazing work being carried out to ensure Northland’s kiwi, forests and wildlife can thrive. Working collaboratively together over the past five years has made a real and tangible difference where it matters most – on the ground and in the kiwi burrow. I’m looking forward to the next five years – the future for Northland kiwi is looking bright!”
The Kiwi Coast Trust wishes to thank all the groups and projects for their enduring and relentless hard work controlling animal pests, advocating for improved dog control, and ensuring Northland’s kiwi, forests and native wildlife can thrive. Thanks also to our supporters, sponsors, fundraisers, donors, partners and funders over the last five years including the Northland Regional Council, NZ Landcare Trust, Reconnecting Northland, WWF-NZ, Tindall Foundation, Foundation North, Gilbert Pest Traps and Department of Conservation Community Fund.
You can download a full copy of the report here.
