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Funding grant supports Kiwi Care

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August 26, 2025

Protecting kiwis on the Peninsula.

A recent funding boost to help protect kiwi from predation has provided a further three years certainty for the work of the Whenuakite Kiwi Care Group. Waikato Regional Council has granted almost $320,000 to the group over the next three years, to carry on the work that started with a community vision in 2000, and was vigorously pursued by Whenuakite farmer Arthur Hinds.

Six stakeholders and landowners jointly support the project on 3500 hectares of coastal property between Whenuakite and Tairua. The Kiwi Care group employs one contractor to oversee the dedicated team of volunteers who maintain traps, keep the tracks open and sit out at night recording kiwi calls. It is estimated there are currently 121 pairs of adult kiwi in the protected area, whereas 25 years ago there were estimated to be 29 birds in total.

Volunteer trapper Janice Hinds is carrying on the work that her father was so passionate about. She says the WRC funding gives all the volunteers a boost. “We know we can survive another three years, and that gives us hope for the future,” Janice says. “The work we are doing here is important for all of New Zealand.”

Photo shows – Checking the traps – Isabelle Roache, Tessa McGovern, Barnaby Roache and Will McGovern.