Kiwi released on protected island

EMOTIONAL HOMECOMING: One of the kiwi on Motukawanui Island. PHOTO/PAULINE MORETTI

Five kiwi raised in captivity are now running free on the Far North's Motukawanui Island.

The birds, reared in Otorohanga, Auckland and Whangarei's Kiwi North, were released by Department of Conservation staff on October 24 on the biggest of the Cavalli islands off Matauri Bay.

It was an emotional day for more than 50 members of Ngati Kura and the Matauri Bay community taking part.

Ngati Kura kaumatua Nau Epiha said it was great to welcome the kiwi back as tuakana (senior to his ancestors). "The kiwi are our manawhenua," he said.

Children from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Whangaroa, Matauri Te Ohonga Reo and Matauri Bay Primary School travelled with the kiwi by boat to the island to help introduce the birds to their new home. Kiwi were first released on Motukawanui in 1995 in an early Operation Nest Egg project. The original 10 North Island brown kiwi came from eggs rescued in Whangarei, Waitangi and elsewhere around Northland.

They were released onto Motukawanui in an attempt to create a protected island population to offset falling kiwi numbers on the mainland.

DoC ranger Cinzia Vestena said kiwi were thriving on Motukawanui thanks to the diverse habitat and lack of predators such as stoats and dogs. By 2004 it was estimated 50-60 kiwi were living on the island and numbers were likely to have doubled since then.

"It's expected the five captive kiwi we've introduced to the island will breed with the resident kiwi and add their genes to the mix," Ms Vestena said.

She said the public could help the birds survive in their new island home by not bringing dogs ashore.