From 7-9 April 2026, 14 more kiwi were moved from Pōnui Island to Te Motu-ārai-roa (Waiheke island).
“It’s fantastic to see how well the kiwi have been doing on Waiheke. The 10 birds which were translocated last year have had at least four chicks this last breeding season and we now have 14 more on the island.” says Michelle Impey, CEO of Save the Kiwi.
Owain Tanner (Te Korowai o Waiheke; left) and Emma Craig (Save the Kiwi; right). Photo credit: Joshua James
Emma Craig of Save the Kiwi who has been coordinating the releases shares “The kiwi monitoring volunteers have been pivotal in keeping an eye on the birds after their release.”
“These volunteers have been regularly monitoring the kiwi since arriving last year and they will be doing the same with the newly moved kiwi. We really appreciate their commitment and care of the birds and thank them for their mahi.”
The adult kiwi have a radio transmitter attached to their leg, which the volunteers use to monitor where the birds are. Trail cameras are also used to monitor the birds’ behaviour. During the breeding season, evidence of four kiwi chicks was observed using trail cameras and radio telemetry monitoring.
Blair Anderson the Waiheke Development Director and kaumātua for Ngāti Pāoa says, “Watching kiwi thrive on the island is part of the overarching strategic environmental plan that Ngāti Pāoa has to restore taonga species to the motu and the surrounding moana. This success is a strong marker of all the hard work that has been undertaken.”
Vanessa Reynolds, a trustee of Ngāi tai ki Tāmaki adds, “This release is part of our wider kaupapa with Save the Kiwi. It’s really about putting these manu first. There are all of these stakeholder relationships involved in getting here, but the most important part is that we’re brought together by kiwi.” Vanessa is also a part of the volunteer kiwi monitoring team and shares that “being part of the monitoring team has been a special privilege.”
The kiwi were released to Te Matuku peninsula on the eastern end of the island. Thanks to decades of pest control by the Fenwick family, Ngāi tai ki Tāmaki and Te Matuku landowners, island-wide pest management by Te Korowai o Waiheke, and responsible dog owners controlling their dogs, the kiwi are exploring their new home in safety.
Photo credit: Joshua James
Emma says, “The Waiheke community has been extremely supportive of their new kiwi residents. Te Korowai o Waiheke has been eradicating stoats and other invasive predators from the island. Their efforts have been key to safeguarding kiwi on the island and ensuring that they continue to thrive for many years to come.”
Many dogs at the eastern end of the island have also undergone Kiwi Avoidance Training (KAT). “We have been holding regular KAT sessions for dogs on the island and these sessions have been well attended.”
Emma shares that there will be more KAT sessions in the coming months, but highlights that the training is not a silver bullet. “Dog owners can do their part to protect these kiwi by ensuring that their dogs are under control at all times, kept indoors or in a kiwi-safe run at night, and walked on leads anywhere that kiwi might be.”
Photo credit: Joshua James
In 1964, the New Zealand Wildlife service released 14 kiwi onto Pōnui Island following a request from landowner Peter Chamberlin. Today, the island is home to an estimated 1,500 kiwi.
David Chamberlin, Peter’s son, says “We’re glad to see that the kiwi moved to Waiheke last year are doing well. It’s definitely special to play a role in this kiwi kaupapa that my family has been a part of.”
Michelle shares, “After decades of doing this work, we’re finally seeing North Island brown kiwi reach this stage of growth mode. They’re still very dependent on all of this work that everyone’s doing, from the predator control and dog training to the fund raising and training of kiwi handlers. It all plays a key role in seeing kiwi return.”
Save the Kiwi, Ngāti Pāoa, and Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, are leading the translocation of kiwi to Waiheke, with support from Te Matuku landowners, Te Korowai o Waiheke, the Pōnui Island landowners and research team, the kiwi monitoring volunteers, the Waiheke Guardians who have funded the translocation, and the Department of Conservation.
The Waiheke Guardians are a group of locals who have generously supported the translocation to Waiheke. We would like to acknowledge Sir Ralph and Lady Norris, Rick and Shirley Mannering, Angela and Richard Seton, Greg and Janie Loveridge, Paula and Richard Sigley, Lady Jennie Fenwick, Fran Wyborn, Gretchen Goldwater and Ken Christie, Debbie Simpson and Mark Wheeler, Vaughan Smith and Bridget McIver, and Tanya and David Todd for supporting the mahi.
