Maungataniwha Kiwi Project

The Maungataniwha Kiwi Project is fast carving out a name for itself as one of the most prolific and successful kiwi conservation initiatives in the country. The number of kiwi chicks which have been successfully hatched and released into the wild is approaching 200.

• secure and enhance the Kiwi population in the Maungataniwha Native Forest
  
  
• assist in the provision of Kiwi for the restocking of the Cape Kidnappers.

Kiwi eggs are taken from Maungataniwha and incubated. The resulting chicks are then reared in safety at the Cape Sanctuary at Cape Kidnappers, south of Napier, until they are large enough to defend themselves against stoats (at about 850 grams).

Half of them are then released back into the wild at Maungataniwha, while the other half remain at The Cape Sanctuary. This process of taking eggs from the wild, to be incubated and raised in a controlled environment and then released back to the wild, is part of BNZ Operation Nest Egg.

The Maungataniwha Native Forest site was chosen as the predominant kiwi source population for The Cape Sanctuary as it’s within the East Coast, Hawkes Bay kiwi taxa region and still contains good numbers of birds. Other source populations of kiwi are the Kaweka Ranges and Northern Ruahine Ranges, also within the East Coast Hawkes Bay region.

The Maungataniwha Kiwi Project continues as a successful liaison between all organisations and individuals involved. The project is funded substantially by The Kiwi Trust.