Campaign for kiwis to fly

A wide-ranging campaign to raise $300,000 to further re-establish kiwis and other native birds at the National Wildlife Centre, Pukaha Mount Bruce, begins this week.

Dubbed "Flight of the kiwi" the three-month campaign will involve a series of fundraising events, educational programmes and promotions stretching from Featherston to Palmerston North and culminating in a telethon-style day on May 1 at the Masterton Town Hall. All funds raised will be used to support the ongoing restoration of the Pukaha forest, home to some of New Zealand's most endangered birds.

The funds will also help with the translocation of up to 30 kiwis from Little Barrier Island to Pukaha in May this year and the upgrade of the kiwi nocturnal house and visitor facilities at the centre.

"We are delighted to be able to bring kiwi from Little Barrier Island which will approximately double the kiwi population at Pukaha," said Pukaha Mount Bruce board chairman, Bob Francis.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the pest control work that must continue in and around the Pukaha forest which is critical to the survival and growth of endangered birds such as kiwi and kokako. We invite the whole community to play a part in what will be a very special event."

Mr Francis said boosting the kiwi numbers was expected to increase the kiwi population to the point where it can grow more quickly and with less assistance from Pukaha rangers. Mr Francis said while there were some details still to be worked through, it was expected to be the largest mass translocation of kiwi ever undertaken.

The fundraising campaign kicks off this week with an educational programme about pest control, "Whack a rat and save a native bird", being delivered to all schools along with an invitation for them to devise their own individual fundraisers.

"Killing pests is the single most important activity that helps restore the 940-hectare native bush and provide a safe environment for the native birds," said Mr Francis.

"We have made a conscious decision not to barricade the birds and animals in by surrounding them with a predator-proof fence. Fencing on this scale would be prohibitively expensive." Rats pose the greatest threat to birds, followed by stoats, ferrets, weasels and possums.

"This work is expensive and ongoing  we can't let up on it," said Mr Francis.

On Sunday, April 11, a "long lunch" catering for more than 400 people will bring supporters together for a five-course feast in a marquee at the front of Copthorne Resort Solway Park, including Wairarapa wines, entertainment, a special guest and a charity auction.

Businesses and service clubs will also be encouraged to get behind the fundraising campaign. Mr Francis said initial support had been "hugely positive" with a number of businesses already committed through sponsorship and representation on the organising committee.

Visitors to Pukaha Mount Bruce will become much more a part of the kiwi conservation experience in a planned $1.5 million upgrade and expansion of the existing nocturnal house and other outdoor facilities at the National Wildlife Centre.

The existing kiwi enclosures will renovated and enhanced by relocating the Operation Nest Egg kiwi programme to the nocturnal house and introducing new viewing facilities. Visitors will be able to see into the incubation room and the brooders where the kiwi chicks hatch and are looked after until they are returned to the forest.

A two-way intercom will enable visitors to interact with the rangers.

Theatre seating for up to 50 people will allow visitors to view a series of short films which draw the links between the Operation Nest Egg programme and the pest control and forest restoration work being undertaken at Pukaha.

The project is the second stage of an overall upgrade of centre facilities.

A year ago the colours, sights and sounds of an ancient forest, inhabited by huia and moa, were re-created indoors as part of a double award-winning $1.4 million redevelopment of the visitor centre.

"Our visitors tell us seeing a kiwi is the 'must do' on their visit to Pukaha," said Mr Francis. "We plan to make sure that a visit to our nocturnal house exceeds their expectations. Already our kiwi viewing area is regarded as one of the best in New Zealand but we want to do more. We believe we are the only reserve where kiwi are on view to the public and where they are released back into their own environment  our own 940ha of forest."

In addition to the nocturnal house work, stage two includes improving the tuatara enclosure and outdoor signage, displays and interactive mediums. It is hoped that new exhibits will include native frogs, weta, weevils, skinks and geckos. The cafe kitchen and public toilets will also be upgraded.

- Wairarapa News