Education key to Brynderwyn kiwi release

With the planned release of Northland brown kiwi in the Brynderwyns in April on land off King Road owned by Marunui Conservation, preparations are well under way to engage the community in helping with their protection.

A trapper training day held there last November to demonstrate a range of pest traps and practical techniques for killing possums, stoats, ferrets, weasels and rats attracted many neighbours and locals. They have been keen to put their new knowledge into practice and some have since received grants from the Northland Regional Council to assist with the purchase of traps and baits and are already reporting successful catches.

Kiwi avoidance training for dogs

Next up at Marunui is a kiwi avoidance training day for local dogs and their owners. It is a known fact that dogs are the biggest cause of kiwi deaths in Northland, closely followed by stoats, cats and ferrets. This predation, particularly by dogs, has resulted in kiwi life expectancy of only 14 years compared with 40-65 years elsewhere in the country.

Any dog, regardless of its size, breed and age, including the family pet, can kill a kiwi and it can happen in seconds. Kiwi are particularly vulnerable because they cannot fly, have a distinctive smell which makes them easy for a dog to track and, having no wing muscles or breast bone, their chests and internal organs can easily be fatally crushed.

The avoidance training will be free and conducted by Department of Conservation (DOC) kiwi ranger, Pete Graham. A simple method to help reduce the threat dogs pose to kiwi and takes about 15 minutes, it involves walking the dog past a few different props such as a dead kiwi (from DOC’s frozen collection of killed birds), some nesting material, feathers or poo.

The dog is fitted with a special collar and when it shows interest in any item it receives a short, sharp shock from the trainer. Pete says this quickly teaches the dog that kiwi are something to stay away from. He also says that while such training reduces the number of kiwi killed by dogs, it is not the total answer. 

“The best way to prevent dogs meeting kiwi is to keep them under control at all times, stop them from wandering into bush and keep them tied up or inside at night.”

The main focus of the avoidance training day will be on people with dogs who live in or close to the Brynderwyn Hills bush or hunt there with dogs. 

“While we hope the birds will stay within the boundaries of the release site, some may wander into adjacent bush and farmland so we would like our neighbours to be aware and prepared for this,” say John Hawley of Marunui Conservation.

Local residents support training

Mangawhai resident Barry Atkins, a beekeeper and experienced pig hunter, is a strong advocate for kiwi avoidance training. 

“I would be horrified if one of my dogs killed a kiwi. Now that kiwi are to be released nearby in the Brynderwyns I will be ensuring that all my dogs will continue to be avoidance trained and receive certification on an annual basis.” 

He says he would especially encourage anyone with a domestic, farm or hunting dog living near the Marunui release site to take advantage of the free training being offered.

The kiwi avoidance training will take place at Marunui, 300 King Road, on Sunday March 24 from 9.30am until 2pm. Dog owners are invited to register their interest and preferred time by contacting Pete Graham at DOC, (09) 470 3374; or John Hawley, Marunui Conservation (09) 376 4069, 027 262 7904, or email brynderwyns.breamtail@gmail.com.