Saving kiwi seen as national priority

A North Island Brown Kiwi.

Saving the kiwi from extinction in the wild is of such importance it should be treated as a national priority, according to a recent nationwide survey.

The survey, carried out by the Bank of New Zealand, revealed an overwhelming public awareness of the plight of the kiwi as an endangered species in the wild and identified a strong call by New Zealanders to support ways to save our national icon.

Saving the kiwi was of such importance it should be addressed as a national priority, 87 per cent of respondents in the survey said.

And 80 per cent of respondents said they would be prepared to contribute financially to help the kiwi continue to live in large numbers in the wild -- although the survey did not test specific levels of financial support to which respondents would be prepared to commit.

Kiwi numbers have declined 26 per cent in the past seven years and the trend shows no signs of slowing, according to the Department of Conservation (DOC). Two of the six species of kiwi are threatened with extinction.

Paul Jansen, DOC's national kiwi co-ordinator (operations and planning), says the survey results are timely given the critical situation of kiwi survival in the wild.

"Despite our current best efforts we will see many more local populations of kiwi disappear over the next 15 years."

He says the main reason for declining numbers of kiwi in the wild is the loss of kiwi chicks to predators such as stoats and weasels.

The survey of 750 New Zealanders aged 18 or over, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 per cent.

It found 89 per cent of respondents were concerned that the kiwi could largely disappear from the wild in the next few years and be confined to zoos, sanctuaries and offshore islands.

Eighty six per cent of respondents claimed to have seen a kiwi in a zoo, while only 22 per cent claimed to have seen one in the wild.

The main project to protect kiwi in the wild is the Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery Trust which was launched in 2002.

Bank of New Zealand National Sponsorship manager Richard Allen says the bank is encouraged at the apparent level of support for the kiwi from the research, but more needs to be done.

"As New Zealanders we all have a responsibility to save our national icon for future generations," says Mr Allen.

To support the Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery Trust, the public can donate using their eftpos card at any Bank of New Zealand ATM machine or call 0900 SAVE KIWI (72835) to make an automatic $10 donation, or donate online at Kiwi Recovery or at any Bank of New Zealand branch.

- NZPA