Andrew Mentor has joined the Kiwi Coast crew, taking up the role of Mid North Coordinator. With the momentum of the Kiwi Coast continuing at a rapid pace, more coordinators are needed to help ensure a good level of on-the-ground support can be provided to all the groups and entities involved.
Andrew lives near Puketi Forest, outside of Kerikeri, on a 3 hectare block. Andrew set up Puketotara Landcare Group with local farmers in 2012 to help reverse the downward trend in kiwi numbers. Since then kiwi numbers have risen to a healthy 12 calls per hour average.
Drawing upon his own experience with community-led pest control and kiwi care, Andrew is working two days a week, supporting community-led pest control groups in the Mid North, from the eastern Hokianga to the Bay of Islands.
Andrew says “I’m excited about working with the Mid North groups and projects to support their work and boost our local kiwi numbers. There is growing momentum among all of the community to reduce pest numbers and protect our native species, the kiwi being one of our special birds.”
Since starting in October, Andrew has already got stuck in meeting groups, ordering new traps and setting up a new 300 hectare pest control project on Pungaere Road. A key aspect of Andrew’s role will be supporting the Mid North Alliance which involves 14 groups working together to maximise biodiversity gains, find efficiencies and enable kiwi to roam between project areas in safety.
The Mid North Coordinator role has been made possible through funding provided by the Northland Regional Council (NRC) through the Kiwi Coast – Northland Regional Council partnership. NRC Chairman Bill Shepherd says Kiwi Coast has a truly impressive reach across a big swathe of the region, making it the largest community-led restoration projects of its type in the country.
NRC Chairman Shepherd says “Council is proud to be able to contribute to Kiwi Coast’s ongoing successes and everyone involved looks forward to a day – hopefully not too far away – when kiwi will be able to roam safely and freely across the Kiwi Coast.”
Andrew Mentor can be reached at andrew@kiwicoast.org.nz or by phoning 022 467 5173.
