North Island Overview to ESTABLISHING OR ENHANCING A KIWI POPULATION
CREATED BY: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Wendy Sporle
UPDATED BY: Clea Gardiner, Northland Regional Coordinator, Kiwis for kiwi Imagine kiwi in your backyard. Do you know how many people are involved in stopping North Island brown kiwi from becoming extinct? Their mahi (work) safeguards our national taonga (treasure) for the future. So can you. Managing land to make it safe for kiwi involves hard work, skills, time, resources and commitment. If your vision is to see more kiwi on North Island whenua (land), this flyer will get you started. Whether you are establishing a new or adding to an existing kiwi population, many people and organisations that are involved in handling, protecting and translocating (moving) birds can help you explore options. They will work one-on-one with you, provide resource materials and expert advice.
The Department The Kiwi Recovery Group of Conservation Nationwide, kiwi conservation is guided by the Kiwi Recovery Group (KRG) and DOC. The KRG works towards To get started on any project, approach your local goals described in the National Kiwi Recovery Plan. Department of Conservation (DOC) office or look The KRG also reviews kiwi translocation applications in online: www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/run-a-project/ partnership with DOC. translocation. Local DOC officers can advise, issue translocation permits and help you liaise with other kiwi specialists. If changes to best practices occur, DOC staff The Northland Kiwi Forum can keep you up to date. Working Group - - The Northland Kiwi Forum Working Group (NKFWG) is a Whanau, Hapu and Iwi collaborative union of kiwi conservationists. The NKFWG For any kiwi project to succeed, comprehensive works towards goals described in the Northland Brown discussions must occur with iwi, who have mana whenua Kiwi Taxon Plan. The group assists with steering Northland (power over the land) over source populations, and kiwi translocations and assists community projects. with tangata whenua (people of the land), who oversee release sites. You must keep iwi informed, and trapping, translocation and advocacy are mahi local hapū (sub- Kiwis for Kiwi tribes) may wish to undertake in their capacity as kaitiaki Kiwis for kiwi (www.kiwisforkiwi.org) have many easy-to- (guardians of the land). access resources to help you understand what is involved in protecting kiwi. Resources about predator control, local projects near you and kiwi avoidance training for dogs are available online. Why Translocate Kiwi? Key Considerations You might want to translocate kiwi for several reasons: Translocations must be undertaken in accordance with DOC procedures and the Treaty of Waitangi. Templates, • To boost established populations to ensure successful forms and guidelines are available to help you organise breeding and good genetics. your translocation. Local DOC staff will provide you • To expand the range of kiwi by returning them to areas with the required documents, such as a translocation where they have historically been present but are application, and staff are more than happy to help you unable to recolonise through natural dispersal. through the process. They can also provide you with contact details for relevant iwi, hapū and whānau. • To create crèche or kōhanga (nursery) sites which are protected populations that can be used to supply young The Operation Nest Egg (ONE) umbrella translocation birds to other areas. approval allows multiple projects to be covered by a single translocation proposal of ONE birds. ONE translocations • To salvage kiwi from places where they are no longer involve temporary removal of kiwi chicks and eggs that are safe and there is no way to make them safe (in special at high risk of being killed by predators at mainland sites circumstances only, such as when isolated kiwi are not to safe locations (e.g. captive institutions, crèche sites), breeding because their numbers are too few). where they are reared to a target weight of approximately 1200 grams. These adolescent kiwi are then returned to Translocation Applications mainland sites. New applications can be added to this umbrella proposal after going through a simple checklist, Successful translocation applications answer and changes to existing projects can be made without seven questions: preparing separate translocation proposals. Your local • Does the translocation meet national kiwi recovery DOC staff can advise if the ONE option is appropriate for objectives? Get copies of national and regional plans your project. for kiwi recovery on line and talk to local experts. Meeting Kiwi Conservation Objectives • Is the proposed recipient site within the current or former natural range of kiwi? Find out from local Before you start, ask your local DOC office for copies of: experts such as Kiwis for kiwi, the NKFWG or DOC. • The Kiwi Recovery Plan, • Are the causes of kiwi decline or loss at this site • The appropriate regional Taxon Plan, understood, and can wild animal threats to kiwi be managed? Predators must be controlled for 3 • The National Translocation Strategy, and for Northland, consecutive years before kiwi can be introduced. • The Northland Translocation Strategy • Can the proposed source population supply enough Check your project plans against these documents. If kiwi? A viable population must be started with a you are unsure if your project will meet existing kiwi minimum of 40 founder birds. conservation objectives, discuss your options with local • Do you have enough resources (equipment, people DOC staff and/or the NKFWG. and funds) to prepare your site for kiwi, to carry out the translocation and to protect kiwi afterwards? You will Current and Former Range need a site-specific budget and a project timeline. Confirm if kiwi lived at your proposed translocation • Are you working towards a ‘big picture’ outcome — site in the past. If they did, find out which taxa (variety) such as restoration of a forest? Check with local kiwi lived there. Local DOC experts are your best source experts about your vision and supporting goals. of information. Before translocation occurs, it may be necessary to get them to site-check whether any kiwi • Can the threat from wandering dogs be managed to remain. This information may affect decisions about allow kiwi to breed successfully? A community dog where new kiwi are sourced from and how many birds management plan must be in place for 3 consecutive to translocate. years before kiwi can be translocated. Causes of Decline or Loss • Time of year — kiwi can be caught only when they are not nesting. This restriction prevents nest desertion or If kiwi lived in your project area in the past, it is important injuries to females carrying eggs. Translocations are not to understand what happened to the birds. You will need done during the breeding season, which is 16th May – this information for your translocation application. Typically, 31st December, a 7 ½ month period when catching kiwi local extinctions will be due to mammalian predation or is not allowed. habitat loss:
• Dog predation. Dogs are the biggest threat to adult Resourcing a Translocation kiwi. All types of dogs (lifestyle, pig hunting, farm Transfer, release, monitoring and post-release activities and pet) can kill kiwi. This risk must be managed should be arranged before you start your project. The via community engagement and direct control, e.g. approximate cost to translocate 40 unrelated founder birds dog-free subdivisions, avoidance training for dogs, is upwards of $9000, not including post release tracking restricting dog access and managing pig control by time. Costs for translocating fewer kiwi to supplement an using contractors with target-specific, existing population may be less. However, other factors kiwi-averted dogs. will affect your budget, such as how difficult it is to catch source birds. Be prepared to find funds for: • Mustelid predation. Studies have shown that where weasels, stoats and ferrets are not controlled, only 5% • Boat hire to island crèche/kōhanga populations; of kiwi chicks survive. • Kiwi catching fees (all birds weighing over 1,200 g are • Cat predation. Cats can kill kiwi too, especially younger removed); birds. Cats have an active hunting range of up to 20 km from home. • Transmitters for male birds (required for 40%–60% of translocated individuals); • Rat, pig and possum competition. Although they are not direct predators of kiwi, removal of rats, pigs • Telemetry sets to monitor the male kiwi post-release; and possums increases kiwi nest productivity. Control and of these competitors will deliver other conservation • Release event costs, e.g. food and/or marquee hire. benefits, too. • Habitat loss. Good kiwi habitat is defined by size The Big Picture of usable area, year-round quality of food and the Translocations of any natural taonga, especially kiwi, will attractiveness of spots where kiwi can nest and hide. not be undertaken in isolation. Applicants for translocation Small bush fragments cannot sustain kiwi unless they permits should be working towards a big-picture are connected by “corridors”, access routes kiwi can use goal — such as restoring a forest — supported by the to migrate safely between bush areas. translocation objective. After all, kiwi need good homes to survive. Having a vision for the whole area ensures long- • Vehicle strike. Vehicle strike kills kiwi in some areas term success and buy-in from group members and the where bush fragments are divided by roads. wider community. Sustainability of Kiwi Supply The Dog Threat Seek advice to identify potential source populations. You must make sure that translocating birds does not have You will need a dog management plan in place 3 years a negative impact on the kōhanga/crèche population. before translocating kiwi. Kiwi avoidance training Monitoring source birds will help you identify if the is essential to help minimise the dog threat to kiwi removal of kiwi will be beneficial or not. There are several populations. Find out from Kiwis for kiwi or DOC about considerations: avoidance training in your area. Remember, kiwi avoidance training is not a silver bullet — it may not work on all dogs, • Geographic and genetic closeness of the crèche or especially pet dogs. The safest option for pet dogs, is to kōhanga to your new site. avoid any possible encounter by keeping them away from kiwi areas. Think about how you will manage wandering • How many translocations have already been approved dogs — consult with your local council animal control before yours and whether they have received their officers about options. Consider how you will spread the required numbers of kiwi yet. New translocations will be word about kiwi to local dog owners to get them involved considered with respect to source population health. in your project. • Genetic diversity — planning is required to ensure kiwi are sourced from different parents. You may need to get kiwi from several sites to guarantee genetic diversity. • Availability of birds and resources — translocations to create new kōhanga will be prioritised over other types of projects. More kōhanga offer more opportunity to increase the future supply of kiwi. • New populations or top-ups are likely to come from crèche islands or kōhanga. However, “wild-to-wild” transfers of birds can also occur. These birds may be wild-bred, or kiwi that have been part of a ONE programme. • DOC. It is important to establish strong relationships Translocation Planning with local DOC staff, regional kiwi forums, the KRG Your big-picture vision is the foundation for your and Kiwis for kiwi to ensure you have good technical translocation project. It guides how you will plan the support in planning all phases of your project. Good translocation. planning ensures success. • Empowerment. The release of kiwi at your site is a Requirements for New Sites wonderful and moving celebration. The amount of Kiwi use a wide variety of habitat — forest, wetland, scrub, detailed planning, resourcing and effort that goes into exotic plantations and pasture. Expert assessment of the the release is certainly worth celebrating, and the event suitability of your area is required. is a significant occasion. Consider how you can use the release event as a platform for building relationships, • Size and quality. Future survival of translocated kiwi which will support long-term project momentum. Kiwis depends on what your site has to offer. The area needs for kiwi can provide examples of planning documents to be large enough to support the minimum of 40 from other projects to help you. founder kiwi, and their offspring. For translocations in Northland and Coromandel, a minimum of 500 Ongoing Management ha is required. Western and Eastern kiwi require Once kiwi have been successfully translocated to your site, approximately 1,000 ha. Predators must be controlled there is still a lot of work to do! throughout. Predator- free sites, e.g. islands or securely fenced areas, may be much smaller if they are kōhanga. • Post release monitoring. Post release monitoring is required, with reporting back to DOC, the KRG, iwi, • Kiwi dispersal. Kiwi can have a large home range, local supporters and other interested parties. Ongoing and young kiwi seeking new territories wander over site protection and pest control monitoring is also vast areas. Consider where kiwi may go, and how you essential to protect your new kiwi population. may need to use kiwi call anchoring initially, until you extend the predator control to adjacent areas where • Future proofing. Medium- and long-term planning is translocated birds may eventually disperse. needed to ensure founder kiwi, their young and their habitat will be secure for many years to come. • Pest control. Sites require intensive, continuous predator control for 3 consecutive years prior to kiwi • Kiwi handling. You may have the option to undergo being released, whether by trapping and/or poisoning, training to be an accredited kiwi handler. Consult with and will be audited by DOC prior to translocation, DOC about how you can achieve accreditation and unless sites are already pest free. You should also have whether this is necessary. a community dog management plan in place for 3 consecutive years prior to the translocation. Its success must be vetted by DOC prior to any release event. Relationships and Support Your kiwi project will be exciting but will require support from your neighbours, your community, local iwi and partner organisations.
• Tangata whenua. When planning for your translocation, it is important to recognise the spiritual significance of such events to Māori. Involve the relevant iwi, hapū or whānau early in the planning process. It is ideal for direct discussions to occur between iwi of source and recipient areas from the outset.
Resources
• National Kiwi Recovery Plan (draft): http://www.doc.govt.nz/pagefiles/165018/consultation-draft-kiwi- recovery-plan-2017-2027.pdf • Northland taxon plan: http://www.doc.govt.nz/about-us/science-publications/conservation-publications/ native-animals/birds/taxon-plan-for-northland-brown-kiwi/ • Northland Brown Kiwi Translocation Strategy: Available from the Kiwis for kiwi Northland Kiwi Coordinator • Dog Management Plan templates; Northland and National templates for dog management • DOC’s translocation web link: http://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/run-a-project/translocation • Northland Translocation Annual Report Template DOCCM-3128207; Available from DOC • Kiwis for kiwi: http://www.kiwisforkiwi.org Suggested Translocation Process
Actions: What to Include:
Keep everyone informed and updated throughout Provide documents stakeholders require/ask for
• Project information (include pest/predator and dog control outlines) • Source site information (include map) • Timeline Develop translocation outline • Key support people • Source of technical advice • Budget and funding sources • Project member skills and capacity
Carry out consultation, iwi liaison, information Keep records of consultation (include dates gathering; secure support consultation took place, with whom and how)
If you see anything you think is missing from the Confirm readiness against “readiness checklist” checklist, add it
DOC and KRG will consider the project outline, make Submit translocation outline to DOC office nearest recommendations and provide support. They may the kōhanga/crèche source site contact your local kiwi forum to seek advice
Incorporate changes into your application based on Adopt their recommendations feedback from local kiwi forums, DOC and the KRG
DOC and the KRG will assess your application and Complete translocation application and submit will either support it or make more recommendations. to DOC for approval This process may take up to 6 months
Secure funding (external and internal) Make sure funds are available before plans go ahead
Permits will have conditions attached, which must Receive translocation permit (issued by DOC) be adhered to — everyone involved should understand them
If you want to handle kiwi, plan the training process in Train to become an accredited kiwi handler advance, well before you need to work with the birds
Make sure trained handlers in your group understand Secure a handling permit from DOC and adhere to translocation permit conditions
Use only accredited handlers. The release event will Carry out translocation require considerable planning and logistics, including advocacy work
Monitor kiwi post-release, continue site protection, pest Continue updating skills base, group membership control and pest control monitoring and equipment
Plan for when you ‘retire’ from the project — someone Develop a medium- and long-term plan else can take control with minimum disruption
Continue to share reports and information with DOC, Be proactive and update stakeholders regularly iwi and other stakeholders Checking your readiness This checklist has been developed to help you track the translocation process. Use it to help you fill out the translocation application.
DO YOU HAVE THESE ITEMS COVERED? DONE
Strategy Information from discussing proposed translocation with specialists
A written outline of what you want
Relationships & support Leadership and technical support
Iwi support, from both source and release site rohe (areas)
Enough landowners and people to make it happen easily
Information from specialists on where your new kiwi can be sourced
DOC support and access to best practice documents
Established contacts with KRG, Kiwis for kiwi, local kiwi forum(s) (NKFWG if in Northland)
Secured, long-term funding to prepare the site, carry out the translocation and to protect kiwi in the future
Habitat suitability Long-term security for the land, e.g. reserve status if public land or covenant if private land
Confirmation that the habitat is suitable (area size and type)
Information on how many kiwi the site can support (carrying capacity)
Habitat corridors or protected ‘links’ kiwi can travel to reach other (future) kiwi populations
A strategy in place to avoid initial dispersal, e.g. kiwi call anchoring, telemetry monitoring, temporary anti-dispersal fences if required
Plans in place for long-term kiwi dispersal, e.g. a way to create a larger protected area, or to carry out future translocations to other nearby places
Threat management & A clear idea of current and future threats to kiwi in the area, and plans in place monitoring to mitigate these
Predator control programmes (including data collection) following best practices and using kiwi-safe trapping methods, which have been ongoing for at least 3 consecutive years prior to release, and which will be continued after the release (for ferrets, stoats, weasels, cats and rats)
A community dog management plan for all types of dogs, which is ongoing and has been in place for 3 consecutive years prior to release
A pest animal monitoring programme that has been in place for at least 3 years to ensure methodologies are successful
Control plans targeting direct/indirect animal competitors (possums, rats and pigs, etc.)
Kiwi Kiwi monitoring and data collection ability and commitment, either within your project or with outside support, at both source and recipient sites
Ongoing advocacy Potential opportunities for advocacy work identified and work planned
Opportunities to educate stakeholders and communities identified and planned
Opportunities for scientific research identified and managed
Taxon plans The closer your project aligns with the taxon plan objectives, the more likely it is to secure funding and support Thank you! Special thanks to the NKFWG and kiwi projects in Northland, and to northern Auckland area contributors who have overseen successful translocations and who have shared their knowledge so generously. Thank you for helping North Island communities safeguard our native taonga, the kiwi.
p: (09) 307 4878 e: [email protected] w: www.kiwisforkiwi.org