For more information about Kiwi in Whakatane visit www.whakatanekiwi.org.nz
Click here for Ohope Beach Local Attractions
For more information on Kiwi zones in Whakatane click here.
Click here for the Ohope Scenic Reserve Fairbrother Loop Self Guided Walk Map
Whakatāne's abundance of indigenous wildlife has led it to be known as the 'Kiwi Capital of the World'. We have the unique opportunity to simply walk into the bush surrounding Whakatāne and Ōhope and be immersed in Kiwi territory. The Whakatāne Kiwi Trust ensure our local Kiwi population continues with pest control and Kiwi monitoring to help ensure the survival of this national icon. There are now over 300 birds in the area compared to just a few found in 1999.
The Ohope Scenic Reserve is home to many Kiwi. Visitors are able to walk through the area along established walking tracks. The Whakatāne Kiwi Trust hold Kiwi Night Walks during May and June, visit their website for more information.
About the Kiwi
The Kiwi is a flightless bird and native to New Zealand hence why many New Zealanders referring to themselves as Kiwis. The Kiwi has a strong cultural and spiritual association with tangata whenua, Maori - the people of the land.
Kiwis are nocturnal birds, active during the darker hours at night. They have an exceptional sense of smell and their nostrils are uniquely placed near the tip of the long bill. Their inability to fly make them an easy target for prey with only five percent of kiwi chicks in the wild making it to adulthood. Predators such as stoats, ferrets, dogs and cats are the most dangerous to kiwi. Possums are also a threat, while they don't kill kiwi they do compete for their nest sites and the fights between kiwi and possum can result in eggs getting smashed.
There are five species of kiwi....
All five specials are classified as a threatened species. The north island brown kiwi can be found in the Whakatane district, this type of kiwi is classified as being in serious decline with an estimated 25,000 North Island brown kiwi remaining.
The Whakatane Kiwi Trust, partners and the community are helping to ensure the survival of our kiwi.
The Whakatane Kiwi Project works on reserves including Moutohora (Whale Island), Ohope Scenic Reserve, Kohi Point Scenic Reserve, Mokorua Scenic Reserve and Waiotane Reserve (Wainui).
About The Whakatane Kiwi Project
A few North island brown kiwi were discovered at Ohope Scenic Reservie in 1999. Amazingly they survived with no predator control. This discovery helped to create the Whakatane Kiwi Project, a partnership between Environment Bay of Plenty and the Department of Conservation, in conjunction with Te Runanga o Ngati Awa. Te Runanga o Ngati Awa are joint managers of Moutohora and Ohope Scenic Reserve and also hold statutory acknowledgement rights over Kohi Point and Mokorua Scenic Reserves.
Since the beginning, targeted predator control and Whakatane Kiwi Trust projects have gone a long way to achieving a self-sustaining kiwi population in Ohope Scenic Reserve and Moutohora (Whale Island) with over 300 kiwi in the Whakatane area.
For more information about the Whakatane Kiwi please visit www.whakatanekiwi.org.nz