The children at Mangonui School don't need to be told that the Far North kiwi population needs nurturing, or that every bit helps in the work others are doing to protect the future of the national bird.
Several classes at the school were inspired by a visit to the kiwiconservation area at Whakaangi Landcare Trust (Hihi) last year to draw a kiwi, and to trace the outline with coins.
More recently, after another evening school visit to Whakaangi, they presented the kiwi drawing to Whakaangi advocacy officer June Salt.
The money given and collected by the children has been used to buy the very latest just-released A24 gas-operated trap, capable of multiple (and humane) trappings of rats and stoats.
Whakaangi trappers will test it, mounted on a tree well above ground level, over the coming months, and if it is successful will buy more units.
Mrs Salt, who said a DOC trial of the new trap had been very positive, visited the school recently to show the children the trap their donation had paid for, engraved with the school's name.
