Capital Kiwi Project

The Capital Kiwi Project is a mission to restore a large-scale wild kiwi population to Wellington’s backyard.[1] The project spans 23,000 hectares, from Red Rocks in the south, to west of Porira.[1] The main threat to the kiwi population is introduced predators, specifically stoats.[1] To combat this, a network of 4,500 traps has been deployed.[1]

In late 2021, having achieved all technical criteria, the project engaged in kōrero with iwi and the Department of Conservation (DOC) to return kiwi.[1] In September 2022, a DOC permit was received to transfer 250 kiwi over seven years, beginning in late 2022.[1] The aim is to have kiwi wandering beneath the Brooklyn wind turbine and on Mt Kaukau.[1]

The project is a partnership between the local community, iwi, and landowners.[2] It is the country’s largest community-owned mustelid-trapping project, and the second-largest anti-stoat network after DOC’s Murchison Mountains programme.[1] The project is funded by Predator Free 2050 and other supporters.[2]

Recently, the project celebrated the discovery of two kiwi chicks, marking a historic moment for the national bird.[3] This is a significant step towards the goal of reintroducing the North Island brown kiwi to the city and establishing a wild population.[3]

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