Future Whangarei Heads kiwi kaitiaki / guardians learned all about how to care for their local kiwi and help keep them safe during a very special school visit.
Todd Hamilton from Backyard Kiwi brought two very special visitors – Humphries and Te Motu Manu Hine the kiwi – into Whangarei Heads school for a brief encounter on June 9th. The aim was to teach the students all about kiwi – how to care for them, understand them, and most importantly, grasp the crucial importance of dedicated dog control.
Todd said “Whangarei Heads School is probably one of the few schools in New Zealand that has kiwi probe holes on the playing fields. Teaching the kids all about the unique features of kiwi, their evolutionary background, key threats to survival and what they can do to help the kiwi literally living in their backyards is hugely important”.
“Giving the local kids even a brief chance to meet a couple of their wild kiwi up close before the birds were released later that evening was a powerful learning experience. They are the future kiwi kaitiaki or guardians for the 1,130 strong kiwi population on the Whangarei Heads peninsula.
The community-led Backyard Kiwi project has helped reverse the decline of local kiwi and now their numbers are steadily increasing every year. How that continues into the future, will be in the hands of these young kaitiaki.”
One of the kiwi was named ‘Humphries” in honour of long-standing Whangarei Heads Deputy Principle, Denise Humphries. Denise has championed local kiwi recovery for around two decades, helping to educate each new batch of students in how to care for kiwi.
Todd added “Most of these kids have pet dogs and help with dog walking. They now know how crucial it is for them to keep walking their dogs on a lead, giving them a secure place to sleep at night, and contained during the day while they’re at school. ”
“These simple things, along with sustained pest control, will ensure kiwi at Whangarei Heads can continue to flourish long into the future in their good care.”
If you would like to get involved in the Backyard Kiwi project contact info@backyardkiwi.org.nz
To find out about other Northland projects caring for their local kiwi contact ngaire@kiwicoast.org.nz
