Tiakina o tatou kiwi mai nga kuri
Northland’s very own Northland brown kiwi live around
the region—for some of us, they’re right next door. This is
fantastic! But it’s only part of the story. In other parts of
New Zealand, kiwi live to be 40–65 years old. In Northland
the average age is just 14.
The greatest cause of kiwi deaths in Northland
is dogs
Luckily, this issue is easily solved, as people are the key.
What you do, whether you own a dog or not, will make a
difference.
Not my dog?
Ma te kuri ka mate te kiwi
All dogs, regardless of training, size, breed and
temperament, are a threat to kiwi.
Farm dogs, hunting dogs, visiting dogs and pets are equally
attracted to kiwi. They may not mean to kill them, but kiwi are
extremely easily crushed by a dog. Kiwi don’t have a sternum
(breastbone), so their rib cage is very vulnerable. A dog can
kill a kiwi by picking it up gently in its mouth, or by giving it
a playful push with its muzzle. A dog that has never killed
anything before and has shown no sign of aggression is quite
capable of killing a kiwi.
Kiwi are chased because they smell fantastic to dogs—and
because kiwi run away from the threat. They become an ideal
target for any dog. And what might start as one accidental
encounter can quickly become a habit.
The only way to avoid dogs killing kiwi is
to stop kiwi and dogs meeting.
This means all dogs, wherever they are
from and whoever they belong to, including
dogs trained to avoid kiwi or other birds.
Where our kiwi live
Northland brown kiwi live in some surprising places! While
they prefer damp gullies in native forest and dense shrubland,
they are also found in plantation forest, rough pasture, around
wetlands, and in shrubland with lots of gorse or blackberry.
The birds generally have multiple daytime shelters comprising
burrows, fallen nīkau fronds, hollow logs, tight vegetation
and slash from land-clearing or forest harvest. They will also
roost on the edge of roads or bush and can be found running
along or across roads at night, and through properties and
sections. One of these could be your
property, or your
neighbour’s!
Northland kiwi killed
by dogs. Such kiwi
are found every week
around Northland.
How to help our kiwi
But I don’t have a dog
As a dog owner/minder you need to ensure dogs are:
Reporting wandering dogs or dogs that seem to roam or be
‘running loose’ is critical, especially in, around and near areas
where kiwi live. Report the dog as quickly as possible and
provide a good description of it.
• Contained on your property, so there is no chance of
them wandering.
• On a lead when walking.
• Permitted when hunting.
• Bird aversion trained, wherever possible.
Dogs should also be:
Environmental Northland (ENL)
Whangarei 09 4387513
• Registered with the local district council.
Kaipara 0800 10 58 90
• Neutered if you don’t intend to breed from them.
Unwanted dogs should go to new homes where they
will be well cared for and controlled, or taken to the
SPCA.
Far North District Council
Each year, hundreds of Northland
dogs are trained to avoid kiwi,
should they meet them. Although
this training cannot guarantee
a dog won’t harm kiwi, it makes
a big difference for many dogs
and helps owners and minders
understand dogs’ behaviour
around birds. The dogs that benefit the most from
aversion training are farm and hunting dogs that are
required to work in or around kiwi habitat. If you’re a
hunter using dogs, you’ll need a certificate showing that
your dog has been on a bird aversion training course in
order to get a hunting permit in or around kiwi areas.
Contact your nearest Department of Conservation office
for information about aversion training opportunities.
All of these kiwi
were killed by
one dog during
Christmas 2005.
Published by Publishing Team, Department of Conservation, PO Box 10420, Wellington | September 2011
Contact:
0800 920 029
Or your nearest Department of Conservation office or
kiwi care community group.
Pet-free subdivisions
New housing areas that prohibit certain pets are becoming
more common in Northland. Dog- and cat-free subdivisions
are created primarily to help protect kiwi and other native
animals. If you think pet-free conditions in such areas are
being broken, identify the likely property and call the local
district council in the first instance, or the NZ Kiwi Foundation
if the location is in the Far North District. You can also call your
local Department of Conservation office.
What about stoats?
In most areas of Northland, stoats are a major threat to kiwi,
especially young birds. While stoats are the greatest threat in
areas where there isn’t any predator control, dogs remain the
biggest overall threat to brown kiwi of all ages.
Wild and domestic cats also kill young kiwi and other wildlife.
If you live in or near a kiwi area, ideally keep your cat inside, or
contained all the time. At the very least, keep it inside at night.
Your pet may look like it sleeps a lot, but monitoring of cats
wearing radio transmitters has shown that they can wander up
to 20 km from home. Many cats roam frequently and widely.
As with dogs, cats should be neutered if you don’t plan to
breed from them. Unwanted cats should be sold or given to
new homes where they will be well cared for, or taken to the
SPCA.
For more information visit
www.doc.govt.nz/northlandbrownkiwi
www.savethekiwi.org.nz
Dogs are the number one killer of
kiwi in Northland. Kiwi are being
killed by dogs here every week.