Birds of a feather

WORDS KATEE SHANKS IMAGES SUPPLIED

The Kererū has been crowned Bird of the Year 2018. And that’s cool. That’s just absolutely fine. But when someone living beyond our shores asks me who I am, or where I come from, I’m never going to say “I’m a Kererū” because, let’s face it, I’m a proud Kiwi.

Kiwi - stole our hearts and brought us together as a nation

For years we’ve been enamoured by the small flightless bird, and Kiwi is a term of endearment for the people of New Zealand. So, for this year we’ll let the Kererū have the limelight safe in the knowledge it was the Kiwi that stole our hearts and brought us together as a nation over a hundred years ago.

Until the First World War, the Kiwi represented the country and not the people, but by 1917 the terms “En Zedders and Māorilanders” had been supplanted by Kiwi, and the name stuck.

The distinct short and stocky bird is, of course, unique to New Zealand – but so are many others. You could argue it’s not as beautiful as the Tui, or as handsome as the Kea, or as popular as the Kererū (like whatever), but our love affair with the Kiwi continues with hundreds of people throughout the country volunteering to ensure the little bird’s survival.

And while there are pockets of New Zealand native bush where Kiwi numbers are increasing thanks to human intervention, it was the wisdom of a Whakatāne native that trademarked the town as the Kiwi Capital of the World. Which is a big call - is it a deserved title? You betcha according to Whakatāne Kiwi Trust chairman John Pullar.

Pullar is a craggy dude, a little rough around the edges, who often wears purple Converse shoes with a suit. He readily admits he is not a “greenie” or a “tree hugger”, but he is an ideas man and you need one of those when you’re trying to find money to keep any trust going.

“I’ve always admired the passion of all those involved with the Kiwi Trust, and I believe in what they do 100 percent,” Pullar says. “I also believe the Kiwi Capital of the World crown is deserved in that we literally do have Kiwi living in the backyards of a number of residents, as well as in our forests and reserves. The town is basically an unfenced sanctuary.”

The story begins in 1999, when eight North Island brown kiwi were found unexpectedly in the Ōhope Scenic Reserve. These adult birds were the last of their local population because without pest control 95 percent of their chicks were being killed in their first few months of life. Without intervention, this kiwi population, unique to the Whakatāne area, would have been lost forever.

Whakatāne Kiwi Trust chairman John Pullar

Te Teko Texas Rangers with Rayonier Matariki Forests

The discovery of these kiwi prompted the development of the Whakatāne Kiwi Project, a partnership between the Bay of Plenty Regional Council (then Environment Bay of Plenty) and the Department of Conservation, in conjunction with Te Runanga o Ngāti Awa. Since then, the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust and the Whakatāne District Council have also become partners in the project.

The Kiwi Capital of the World now boasts a Kiwi population in excess of 300 birds. By Christmas there will be an extra ten in the mix and their survival is pretty much guaranteed: made of bronze, they make up the Kiwi Wandering Project – the latest undertaking by the Trust.

Kiwi Wandering aims to connect locals and visitors to the kiwi capital while also educating, advocating and providing another “to do” in Whakatāne.

The Kiwi Capital of the World now boasts a Kiwi population in excess of 300 birds.

Once mooted by Department of Conservation community ranger and “ideas man” Neil Hutton (although Hutton believes the idea of something similar may have been suggested by Whakatāne Mayor Tony Bonne some years back), Pullar did what he does and asked for money to fund the project.

“The Whakatāne-Ōhope Community Board kicked off funding with a $25,000 donation after we pitched the idea to them. Requests to Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Ltd, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Department of Conservation, and Air Chathams, each funded a further $5000 (the cost of each kiwi) were met positively and the Wandering Project grew legs. The Kiwi Trust also paid $5000.”

Each kiwi is life-sized and life-like. Artist Liz Grant, who created them, has a degree in zoology and specialises in accurate bronze casting, and the bronze kiwi will ‘wander’ through Whakatāne’s town centre, past the i-SITE, and along the river to the new Wairaka Centennial Park and Playground.

The Kiwi Trust has developed a scavenger hunt document to help guide families and school groups along the ‘Kiwi Wandering’ trail. The trail will be wheelchair and family friendly to ensure that even if people aren’t able to go into the bush they will still be able to interact with Whakatāne kiwi.

The Whakatāne Kiwi Trust also supports the Omataroa Kiwi Project. Omataroa has recently formed a partnership with Rayonier Matariki Forests and, in conjunction with students at Te Kura o Te Teko School, are also doing their bit to ensure the survival of Kiwi in the Worlds Kiwi Capital.

The Omataroa Kiwi Project, a kiwi conservation initiative developed by the trustees of Omataroa Rangitāiki 2 Trust, has worked for the last decade to protect the Eastern Brown Kiwi in the Puhikoko Reserve (approximately 500 hectares of native bush) and the wider 7,700 hectares within Eastern Bay of Plenty’s Omataroa Forest. The land is owned by the Trust.

Neil Robert Hutton Photography

In collaboration with Rayonier Matariki Forests, who manage the production forest within Omataroa, the Te Teko Texas Rangers initiative was developed to provide a fantastic opportunity for senior students (aged 11 and 12) at Te Teko School to learn about kiwi conservation and the wider biodiversity of Omataroa Forest through an outdoor educational programme.

Ian Tarei of Omataroa Kaitiaki, who has been involved with Omataroa Kiwi Project since its inception, is on board to deliver the programme.

The educational framework will see “Rangers” visit the forest to learn about their land, the different flora and fauna and the importance of protecting them, along with lessons on predator control, kiwi health checks and egg lifts. Te Kura o Te Teko School principal Tony Holland says it has been an incredible opportunity for the children to build skills and knowledge as future guardians of the land, resources and taonga.

For this year we’ll let the Kererū have the limelight safe in the knowledge it was the Kiwi that stole our hearts and brought us together as a nation.

So, while the Kiwi Capital of the World has featured a cast of thousands in its making, everyone is welcome to come and play their part in carrying it forward. It’s our national bird after all. So watch your back Kererū – your cute, chubby little schtick won’t work forever in the Bird of the Year sweepstakes.

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