Ferrets kill three kiwi rehomed in Hunuas from Coromandel Peninsula

Auckland Council park sports and recreation general manager Mace Ward helped release the kiwi into the Hunua Ranges in March. Photo / Auckland Council

The killing of three kiwi is a "blow" to the plans to reintroduce the species into the Hunua Ranges.

Auckland mayor Phil Goff has described the killing of the kiwis by ferrets as a major setback for all of those involved to release kiwi into the area and said more needed to be done to wipe out the pests.

The North Island brown kiwi were reintroduced into the area for the first time in 50 years at the end of March when five kiwi were released there. They were rehomed from Kuaotunu on the Coromandel Peninsula.

"This is sad news and a blow to the partners, staff and volunteers who have worked hard to release kiwi into the Hunuas.

"It shows that one ferret is all it takes to undo the enormous effort that has been made to establish a new home for kiwi in south Auckland."

The trapping programme in the Hunua Ranges was now specifically targeting ferrets and a large ferret was caught in the same area the kiwi were preyed on. The programme had previously targeted stoats.

A conservation dog would also be used to ensure the area was ferret free.

Regional Parks manager Rachel Kelleher said it was disappointing ferrets had appeared in the area as they had not been detected in the area's pest monitoring.

Auckland deputy mayor Bill Cashmore said losses could be expected while the area was been established, but the work to create a kiwi sanctuary in the area would continue.

"We expect establishment populations like this to suffer losses from time to time and we must continue to work on creating a sanctuary for kiwi in the Hunua Ranges."