A new volunteer army will help buoy one of the Western Bay's most precious environments.
A partnership between Volunteering Bay of Plenty and Western Bay of Plenty District Council will provide a volunteer force to strengthen the Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust.
The council signed a one-year contract with Volunteering Bay of Plenty to help find a co-ordinator and to put together a programme for the Trust.
The Trust is a community-based conservation organisation formed in 2002 by Te Puke Forest and Bird and other members of the community concerned at the decline of North Island Brown Kiwi in the Otanewainuku Forest.
Volunteering Bay of Plenty manager Theo Ursum said he was thrilled the council came on board as volunteers were fully stretched already.