9.0

Recovery Strategy-Goal Aims and Objectives

LONG-TERM GOAL populations of South Island brown and great To maintain and, where possible, spotted kiwi (both currently classified as enhance the current abundance, distribution `threatened') are sufficiently small and and genetic diversity of kiwis. genetically distinct to fall into this category. Preparatory action for these is thus proposed Comment: This goal reflects a in Objectives 6 and 9 (part). commitment to endeavour to prevent further declines of kiwi populations. It may not be Once the priority populations that require achievable in all areas, but provides a immediate work to prevent extinction have yardstick against which to measure future been identified and management initiated, success. the next step is to identify other `key' populations for each species. These The plan's approach towards this goal is populations would then receive particular to identify two aims, one of information management attention, beyond the general gathering or research and one of initiatives that can be recommended for all management. Within each aim are several populations (see Objective 7). The criteria specific objectives. used to determine these key populations AIMS needs further discussion. They are likely to include characteristics of the populations 1. To identify the current distribution, themselves, (e.g. size, rate of decline), and abundance and genetic diversity of kiwis, other factors such as the feasibility of the trends of their populations and the management (e.g. whether the land was threats they face (Objectives 1-4). Crown-owned or not), and the likelihood of 2. To take action to remove the short- such management benefiting other species. term risk of extinction of endangered The management directed at key kiwi taxa, prevent further declines and populations would be aimed at increasing begin recovery of other kiwi populations their productivity and reducing mortality. To (Objectives 5-9). do this requires more information on the Our ability to achieve these aims will be threats faced by individual kiwis. Research greatly enhanced if the programme has on this question (Objective 4) is the final public support and participation. There is objective under the first aim. therefore an additional objective (Objective OBJECTIVES 10) to encompass this. AIM l: Identify distribution, Further information on kiwi distributions, abundance and genetic diversity of kiwis, genetics and population trends (Objectives their population trends and threats. 1-3) is needed to ensure that management is focused first on priority populations. At 1. Identify Current Distribution and present one endangered taxon is identified, Abundance of Kiwis the little spotted kiwi, and further actions to Undertake surveys of known range safeguard it are given in Objectives 5 and 9 and areas where taxa are considered to (part). However work proposed in the first have recently become extinct. year may confirm current indications that

1 7 2. Identify Genetic Diversity of Kiwis 6. Identify and Evaluate Islands Available for Brown or Great Spotted Investigate the genetic variation Kiwis within kiwis across their geographic distribution using a combination of Preliminary work should be morphological and molecular techniques. undertaken to identify islands for these kiwis Identify potential management options in case they are required in the short-term based on these analyses. for endangered populations. 3. Determine Kiwi Population Trends 7. Manage Mainland Populations to Through Monitoring Reduce Their Rate of Decline Develop a technique to index the Endeavour to protect and enhance abundance of kiwis in an area. Identify key kiwi habitat and reduce impacts of dogs, populations for each taxa and monitor these pigs, possum trapping and poisoning, and at regular intervals to establish trends. road kills. 4. Determine Threats to Wild 8. Manage Recovery of Key Mainland Populations and Develop Management Populations Techniques for Population Maintenance Take action to reduce mortality and/ and Recovery or increase productivity of key mainland Undertake research to determine the populations. causes of mortality of kiwis in the wild. 9. Develop Techniques to Breed Kiwis Develop management techniques to tackle in Captivity those causes that we can influence directly. Undertake captive breeding research AIM 2: Take action to remove the risk to ensure we have the expertise to take birds of extinction of endangered taxa, prevent or eggs from any kiwi taxon and to rear and further declines and begin recovery of breed these. other kiwi populations. 10. Promote Public Interest and 5. Ensure Survival of Little Spotted Involvement in Kiwi Conservation Kiwi Keep the public informed of Establish little spotted kiwis on one conservation work relating to kiwi. Educate additional island capable of supporting a the public to reduce losses of kiwis during large, self-sustaining population and ensure hunting and trapping activities. Involve their survival on the islands they currently interested groups and individuals infield occupy. work where appropriate.

10.0 Work Plan

The tasks needed to implement this plan agencies that are expected to be involved in are identified as `plan' under the ten each. This does not imply that they objectives. In brackets after each task are the necessarily will be involved nor have a names of those individuals, divisions of the responsibility for carrying them out. Department of Conservation, or other 1 8 OBJECTIVE 1: IDENTIFY CURRENT of which will ensure that we can identify the DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF key populations in each area for monitoring KIWI (see objective 3). An important element of all surveys will be the collating of existing The Department of Conservation data, e.g. Wildlife Service's Fauna Survey currently runs the `Kiwi Call Scheme' Unit's records. whose three aims are as follows: 1) to determine the national distribution of Plan: kiwis Northland Conservancy 2) to relate kiwi density to location and survey gaps in known distribution. habitat 3) to assign a `kiwi call index' at a known Auckland Conservancy time of year to each listening station to survey Hunua Range, Kawau and Ponui enable the dynamics of the population to Islands be determined with time. Waikato Conservancy It is intended to continue this scheme, survey Coromandel, Kawhia, Pirongia collecting records from all individuals that forests. can be encouraged to participate in it. Bay of Plenty Conservancy Publicity should be increased to maximise re-survey Mamaku Plateau. the productive involvement of the public in East Coast Conservancy this scheme. In addition it is proposed to survey Raukumara and Te Urewera send experienced personnel to survey identified gaps in the distributions of each Ranges. taxa, as identified below. Such surveys may Tongariro/Taupo Conservancy provide an opportunity to train interested survey gaps in known distribution. people in the use of call counts to identify Hawkes Bay Conservancy and monitor populations. Research is survey Ruahine and western Kaweka planned under Objective 5 to enable kiwi Ranges. call counts to be used as a reliable method of indexing kiwi abundance. Wanganui Conservancy survey gaps in known distribution in All Species Taranaki Plan: Outcome: Continue the Kiwi Call Scheme (Science & Research, Conservancies, Identification on a conservancy basis of General Public) kiwi distribution, with an indication of the density in different areas. This information Outcome: will form the basis for the design of a Regularly updated distribution maps monitoring programme under objective 3. of kiwis and measures of call rates in some areas. South Island Brown Kiwi North Island Brown Kiwi Explanation: Explanation: Determination of the distribution and abundance of brown kiwis at the apparently The distribution of the North Island isolated populations at Haast and Okarito is brown kiwi is fairly well known in some a high priority. If genetic work (objective 2) areas, e.g. Northland. The plan identifies determines these to be different from those priorities for survey within different in Fiordland they may need to be treated as conservancies of the Department to fill in endangered taxa. gaps in present knowledge, the completion 19 Plan: Island requires confirmation (see objective Survey population of Haast area and 5). (Nelson/Marlborough Conservancy). complete survey of Okarito (West Coast OBJECTIVE 2: IDENTIFY GENETIC Conservancy). Compare with previous DIVERSITY OF KIWI surveys to evaluate current trend. Outcome: If one of the accepted goals of management is to conserve genetic Identification of the approximate number diversity, it is essential to establish first the of kiwis in these areas and their distribution. extent of variation between and within Comparison with previous surveys will regional populations of kiwi. It is just as assess whether these populations are in essential to resolve the long-standing decline and determine the urgency for arguments over their taxonomy, so that the recovery action. birds can be grouped into appropriate Stewart Island Brown Kiwi management units. This kiwi is known to be widespread on Brown Kiwi Stewart Island and sites for monitoring can Explanation: be identified without the need for further survey. Preliminary findings from current studies by Dr. C. Daugherty of Victoria University, Great Spotted Kiwi Wellington, together with those from an Explanation: earlier investigation by D. Fountain (in Current knowledge indicates several Powlesland, 1988) show: discontinuities in the distribution of great there is moderate to high genetic spotted kiwis and doubt about the southern variation at the individual, local and limit of the species. Densities appear to regional levels in brown kiwi have declined in lowland areas in recent brown kiwis from Northland and years and the distribution of the lowland Taranaki are closely related to each other, form (see objective 2) is of particular but distinct from those in the Bay of importance. Surveys of this species are a Plenty high priority. brown kiwis at Okarito are more closely Plan: related to those in the North Island than Survey population from northwest their conspecifics in Fiordland Nelson to South Westland. (Nelson/ only two (instead of three) groups of Marlborough, Canterbury, West Coast brown kiwis should be recognised: a Conservancies). northern form, extending south to Outcome: Okarito, and a southern form, centred on Distribution of great spotted kiwi and Fiordland and Stewart Island. identification of current disjunct Birds at Haast may group with either of populations. Comparative densities in these two distinct forms or represent a third upland/lowland areas. form. There is also new evidence indicating Little Spotted Kiwi that Okarito birds may be of a different form than the northern one. Completion of The mainland population is considered analyses is essential to determine the priority extinct although reports (e.g. South given to different populations. Westland) will be followed up. The The brown kiwis on Kapiti may prove of probable presence of one bird on D'Urville

20 particular significance and their identity Land Resources, Charles Daugherty, VUW; needs confirmation. Though birds from Jim Jolly, private consultant). North and South Islands were apparently Outcome: released there originally, there is evidence that only the latter are now represented. Identification of variation within great They would have originated from five birds spotted kiwi populations and possibly from Haast and two from Fiordland. This revision of taxonomy. Assessment of the may mean that Kapiti brown kiwis represent effort that should be applied to the a significant proportion of the small Haast conservation of different populations. populations on an island. Little Spotted Kiwi Plan: Explanation: Complete analyses of blood samples Until recent translocations, little spotted currently held, using blood protein and kiwis remained only on D'Urville and mitochondrial DNA techniques. Collect Kapiti Islands. Preliminary work indicates further blood samples from Haast and Kapiti that there are no significant genetic populations for analysis. Compare genetic differences between these two populations analyses with morphological data. (West but this needs confirmation. Coast & Wellington Conservancies, Science & Research Division; Charles Daugherty, Plan: Victoria University (VUW); Alan Baker, Collect blood and morphometric data Royal Ontario Museum). from the D'Urville island bird now on Long Island from which samples have not been Outcome: obtained. Collect similar data from any A revised taxonomy for brown kiwi. birds remaining on D'Urville. (Nelson/ Assessment of the effort that should be put Marlborough Conservancy, Science & in to conserving different populations. Research, Charles Daugherty, VUW). Great Spotted Kiwi Outcome: Explanation: Identification of any differences between Measurements of body size and weight D'Urville and Kapiti Island little spotted indicate that great spotted kiwis in upland kiwis and a recommendation on the degree areas in northwest Nelson are significantly of effort and resources that should be larger and heavier than birds in lowland expended to maintain the two as separate areas. Genetic analyses are needed to assess genetic lines. whether this is a clinal response to altitude, Note to objective 2 or whether there are distinct forms occupying the two areas. There may also be It is important to recognise that the significant genetic differences between the studies proposed may not always produce apparently disjunct populations from north results that are beyond interpretation and Different methods can produce to south. dispute. different conclusions when applied to the Plan: same population. This means that a cautious Collect blood and morphometric data approach must be adopted when considering from great spotted kiwis from throughout the findings of genetic studies. They their range. Analyse blood using molecular advance strong support for a hypothesis, but identification techniques and compare do not provide definitive answers. The results with morphology. (Nelson/ biggest problems are likely to arise when Marlborough, Canterbury, West Coast electrophoretic studies do not support Conservancies; John McLennan, DSIR obvious morphological and behaviourial 21 differences between populations. This has 4) the corrections that have to be applied to arisen already with the brown kiwis at allow for seasonal variations in call rates. Okarito. They exhibit many features Further research is needed to establish: characteristic of South Island birds and have their own unique type of lice, but appear to - whether the procedures developed for be indistinguishable genetically from those sampling great spotted kiwis are in the North Island. In such cases it is applicable to the other species, probably best to continue to manage the - whether between and within-night populations as separate identities, at least variation in call rate can be reduced by until the original finding can be confirmed broadcasting taped calls to elicit by additional tests. responses, OBJECTIVE 3: MONITOR - the shape of the relationship between call POPULATIONS OF ALL KIWI TAXA rate and adult density. TO DETERMINE TRENDS Once a reliable method of indexing kiwi abundance has been developed, populations Explanation: can be monitored, and it is essential that this Monitoring of key populations of all kiwi is done. Much of the evidence for a decline taxa is considered important to determine in kiwi populations is anecdotal. It is clearly trends and indicate where management important to determine whether this is in effort should be directed. A monitoring fact true and (if so) the rate at which it is strategy needs to be developed to determine happening, so that corrective action can be which populations are used, (e.g. high or planned and executed before it is too late. low density? centre or edge of range?), Baseline information already exists for which techniques are applied to each and four populations of brown kiwis in the with what frequency. North Island (Waipoua, Waitangi, Monitoring requires a means of Tangiteroria, and Waitere/Haliburtons), for determining kiwi abundance, yet little is one population in the South Island (Okarito), known about the reliability of the techniques and for one population on Stewart Island that have been developed for this purpose. (Masons Bay). In these situations a sample The most common method relies on counts of pairs have been banded on territories, and of calls, largely because it is quick and recapturing these birds at intervals provides simple to use. Kiwi call rates do correlate a measure of turnover of breeding birds. with adult density, although on any one Population indices have also been night the relationship may be masked by established for little spotted kiwis on Kapiti other factors, many of which are still (one survey) and for two populations of unknown. great spotted kiwis in northwest Nelson (Saxon and Kahurangi). McLennan and McCann (in prep.) are developing a set of standard procedures for Ideally, some 12 populations should be sampling great spotted kiwis, based on the monitored in the North Island (including variation that they recorded in their study Kapiti Island), 20 in the South Island (to populations at Kahurangi and Saxon. These cover both species), and two or three on will show: Stewart Island. The populations selected for 1) how many nights are needed to obtain a sampling must be representative, in that they reliable estimate of call rate span the known geographical range of the 2) which nights should be sampled species in question, and a reasonable 3) which parts of the night should be proportion of the types of habitats that it sampled occupies. The baseline information already 22

available is heavily biased towards brown mainly on preservation of adults. Specific kiwis in the North Island, especially those actions are detailed in objective 7 below. living in high density populations in However this plan recognises the need to Northland. move towards a position in which we can Some research is required to: halt or reverse current declines. To do this select appropriate sampling sites, we need to clearly identify the threats to select a level of sampling which provides kiwi populations before we can address an appropriate trade-off between effort them. Earlier sections indicated that we and sensitivity, know a fair amount about egg production and adult survival, but we know little about decide on the frequency of repeating juvenile survival, the key stage of the life- surveys, develop the systems and agency for cycle where kiwis seem under greatest threat. The first and highest priority project collecting, analyzing and storing the information. under this objective should provide the information to fill this gap. With the other The monitoring proposed requires effort projects listed, it should allow us to apply across much of the country. It provides an effective management to large blocks of opportunity for interested members of the forest in the care of the Department of public to make an important contribution, if Conservation (objective 8). they receive suitable training. Plan: Plan: 4.a Undertake research on the survival 3.a Develop a monitoring strategy to be and dispersal of juveniles (Science & applied to all kiwi taxa. Develop a reliable Research). method for indexing abundance using call The survival ofjuveniles after leaving counts and apply this technique together the nest and the threats to them are with the banding of samples of territory significant unknowns that restrict our ability holders. (Science & Research). to manage kiwi populations. Both chicks 3.b Identify key populations for each and juveniles are thought to be especially taxa. (Science & Research, Conservancies). vulnerable to mammalian predators, yet 3.c Establish regular monitoring on a there is little information to confirm or deny regional basis. (Conservancies). this view. Research is required to: Outcome: - determine the survival of chicks in the presence (mainland) and absence A reliable indexing technique and key (islands) of mammalian predators, populations identified by end of 1992/93. Monitoring programme established for all - determine the size at which juveniles kiwi taxa following this. become large enough to resist attacks from cats and stoats, OBJECTIVE 4: DETERMINE - compare the dispersal patterns of THREATS TO WILD POPULATIONS juveniles in continuous forests with those AND DEVELOP MANAGEMENT raised in isolated remnants. TECHNIQUES FOR THEIR RECOVERY - establish whether males and females differ in their patterns of dispersal and Explanation: susceptibility to predators. Current management of mainland Note: This research could perhaps populations is largely an exercise in usefully be combined with the management ` damage minimisation' with the emphasis proposal in project 8.1. in an experimental 23 management approach similar to that stoats are causing their decline will need to adopted for North Island kokako. be checked. At the same time, other research 4.b Undertake research on the effects of should be undertaken to provide the tools possum control operations on kiwi. for reversing the decline, assuming that (Science & Research, Conservancies). stoats are responsible for it. One option is to remove the eggs ofsome pairs, hatch them Large-scale campaigns against in captivity, then return the chicks to the possums will increase in the immediate wild after they have reached an age of six to future, in an attempt to reduce both their 12 months. This is less disruptive than numbers in forests and the rate at which removing adults, and would be especially they spread Tb. In most of these campaigns, attractive if the birds re-lay after `losing' pollard baits laced with 1080 will be their first clutch. Such management is dropped from the air into forests. The baits possible only if it can be shown that the eggs break down quickly in rain, but are of South Island brown kiwis can be otherwise toxic for several days. incubated artificially, and that captive- Recent work in Waipoua indicates reared chicks have a reasonable chance of that kiwis seldom eat pollard baits, and so surviving after being returned to the wild. are unlikely to be adversely affected by the The work necessary to answer these two campaigns (Pierce, R., pens. comm.). questions could be undertaken on Stewart Careful experiments of the type undertaken Island brown kiwis or directly on South by Pierce should, however, be repeated in Island birds. The Stewart Island kiwis have other localities and seasons. Kiwis could similar incubation behaviour to the Okarito well eat them in significant quantities when birds (R. Colbourne, pers. comm) yet are their natural foods are scarce (such as sufficiently numerous and productive to during drought), or when their energy withstand the removal ofsome of their eggs. demands are high (e.g. during laying). Combining such releases of juveniles with predator control may allow management `in 4.c Undertake research on South Island situ'. An alternative approach may be kiwis and evaluate options for the translocation to a predator free island as management of small populations (Science addressed in Objective 6. & Research, West Coast & Southland Conservancies). 4.d Undertake research on the management of kiwis in rough farmland. The South Island brown kiwi is now (Science & Research). the least well known of all kiwis. Richard Henry's observations on Resolution Island It is important to be able to advise provide the bulk of the information on this farmers with kiwis on their land how they sub-species, and these are not detailed or might alter their management practices to comprehensive enough to assess whether the help the species. Potter (1990) showed that birds have any special management needs. kiwis did use small patches of forest surrounded by farmland, but further work is The first priority for this sub-species, needed, e.g. on the effects of different stock then, is to investigate and describe its grazing regimes on kiwi. Further research, ecology, with a view to identifying factors perhaps at Aotuhia in Taranaki, would be which may be compromising the bird's useful. chances of survival. 4.e Undertake research on the social The brown kiwis at Okarito and Haast systems of kiwis. (Science & Research). are likely to require immediate attention if they prove to be sufficiently different to Preliminary work indicates that warrant preserving. The suspicion that, different kiwi taxa exhibit a range of social systems, breeding as pairs or in groups. 24 Further research on this on Stewart Island another sample of birds (say 50), collected and other areas would enhance our ability from a randomly selected part of the island to manage populations. over a period of one or two months. Two 4.f Undertake research on the use of criteria need to be defined and agreed upon exotic forests by kiwis. (Science & at the outset of such a study: Research). 1) what constitutes a juvenile, The only kiwis that appear to make 2) what result indicates that the population significant use of exotic forests are the is self-sustaining. brown kiwis of Northland and east Neither are particularly difficult, Taranaki. Research needs to be undertaken although the second of them may have to be to identify why forests in other areas are not an informed guess rather than a robust being used. If, for example, it is due to calculation. different management regimes then these Such a survey provides a simple snap- could perhaps be altered and lead to an shot of the age-structure of the population, increase in habitat available to kiwis. and specifically indicates whether the birds OBJECTIVE 5: ENSURE THE have bred successfully in the previous two SURVIVAL OF LITTLE SPOTTED seasons. An absence of juveniles is not KIWI necessarily a cause for immediate concern, since it may be a temporary aberration. A Explanation: reasonable proportion ofjuveniles (say 10% or better) together with a high density of The threat of extinction of the little adults would, however, indicate a healthy spotted kiwi has been significantly reduced population. The survey is therefore weak in by recent translocations to islands free of that only one of several possible results mammalian predators. However it cannot would resolve the question of the bird's be considered safe until self-sustaining status. populations are achieved on sufficient islands, so that a threat to one island, e.g. the Another method would be to remove arrival of a mammalian predator, does not territory-holding birds from the island, an threaten the species as a whole. Until the event that would occur when birds are degree of difference between D'Urville and transferred to a further island, and record Kapiti Island birds (objective 2) is the rate at which the territories were re- established, they will be considered occupied. The usefulness of this method in separately. answering the immediate question depends on the timing of such a transfer (see task 4 Plan for Kapiti Island Little Spotted Kiwi: below). 5.a Establish whether the population on A third method would be one of Kapiti Island is self-sustaining. (Wellington intensive study including monitoring of Conservancy, Science & Research). productivity and juvenile dispersal. It is The Kapiti population of little spotted proposed to set up a further study area (in kiwis is so important that its status must be addition to those used by Jolly and determined precisely. The contradictory Colbourne) as part of the monitoring views on its present trends, espoused by programme on Kapiti. Checking the success Jolly and Colbourne, need to be resolved. of burrows in this area, along with Various methods might be used to monitoring of one of the other study areas accomplish this and further discussion is and call counts at sites throughout the occurring on these. One method would be island, may also allow determination of the to determine the proportion of juveniles in health of the whole population. 25

5.b Establish whether the Hen Island - whether this would jeopardise the population is self-sustaining without further survival of the brown kiwis already intervention. (Northland Conservancy). present on Little Barrier. Opportunities for removing the 5.c Establish whether the Red Mercury predators from the other possible islands Island population is self-sustaining without and a re-assessment of the food available further intervention. (Waikato for kiwis on Codfish should also be Conservancy). considered. 5.d Establish a self-sustaining population Plan for D'Urville Island Little Spotted on a further island capable of supporting a Kiwi: large population. (Recovery Group, Wellington Conservancy). 5.e Transfer any birds remaining on D'Urville Island to Long Island. (Nelson/ The risk of having such a large Marlborough Conservancy). proportion of the remaining little spotted kiwis in one place (Kapiti) is unacceptable, 5.f Determine the current Long Island and a second, large population should be population and take steps to ensure its established on an offshore island in the next survival. (Nelson/Marlborough few years. The release site selected should Conservancy). be large enough to support a self-sustaining Steps include ensuring that water population of about 1000 individuals, catchments are maintained, and that the similar to that on Kapiti today. Six islands island remains predator free. If the have been considered which satisfy the D'Urville Island form is distinct, steps requirement for size: Great Barrier, Little should be taken to `line breed' it; i.e. Barrier, Mayor; Great Mercury, Pitt, and Kapiti Island birds should eventually be Codfish - but none of them are immediately removed and `hybrid' birds back-crossed to suitable for little spotted kiwis. Great D'Urville Island birds. The ability to Barrier, Mayor, Great Mercury and Pitt achieve this will depend on how many birds hold potential predators, Little Barrier are found on D'Urville Island and on the holds a dense population of brown kiwis productivity of the existing D'Urville Island which might compete for resources, and birds on Long Island. there is some doubt that there is sufficient invertebrate food on Codfish. Jolly and 5.g Select another island for possible Colbourne (in press) consider the problems transfer of birds from Long Island. associated with each one, and conclude that (Recovery Group). Little Barrier is probably the most suitable If the D'Urville form is distinct, its of them all. presence on this one small island (142 ha) Both the feasibility and desirability of is unsatisfactory in ensuring long-term this transfer cannot be considered in detail survival. A number of smaller islands are until it is known: potentially suitable as release sites for little spotted kiwis, with Breaksea, Tiritiri whether little spotted kiwis and North Matangi and Cuvier being among the more Island brown kiwis compete for obvious candidates. resources (by studying the birds in those areas which they share on Kapiti Outcomes: Island), and if they do, Little spotted kiwi's future secure in whether little spotted kiwis can be medium-term. The island populations can established in an area already be seen as holding measures until such time containing a dense population of brown as re-introduction to the mainland is a kiwis, and if so, possibility. 26 Note to objective 5 should take account of the fact that kiwis will eat large insects, so that islands Monitoring of all island populations, containing endangered weta or beetle perhaps every five years, is important, for the failure of one elevates the importance of species should probably be excluded. the others and may require a further one to Plan: be established elsewhere. In the longer Evaluate all islands that may be suitable term, individuals may have to be transferred for these species. (Recovery Group). from one island population to another to preserve genetic diversity. It is not yet Outcome: known how often such transfers should take Islands provisionally identified as place, and how many individuals should be available for kiwi translocations if required involved in each one, or indeed whether in future. such transfers truly increase genetic diversity. However, geneticists will OBJECTIVE 7: MANAGE MAINLAND probably be able to answer these questions POPULATIONS TO REDUCE THEIR in the next decade or two, long before the RATE OF DECLINE kiwis already on islands experience `genetic difficulties'. Explanation: Current information on the threats to OBJECTIVE 6: IDENTIFY AND kiwis allow certain management actions to EVALUATE ISLANDS FOR SOUTH be recommended in the short-term to try and ISLAND BROWN AND GREAT prevent further population declines. SPOTTED KIWI Plan: Explanation: 7.a Endeavour to prevent further loss of The number of offshore islands kiwi habitat. (Conservancies, Advocacy & potentially suitable for these kiwi species are Information) few, and further evaluation is needed in the This task is largely one of advocating short-term pending the results of the genetic the importance of protecting forest areas analyses and surveys, in case this option is that contain kiwis. Private land-owners needed for any endangered taxa. The Haast should be encouraged to protect land population of brown kiwis may already be through covenants or the use of Forest represented on Kapiti, but the Okarito Heritage and Nga Whenua Rahui funds. population may need an island population as Conservancy staff should provide input an insurance. (Note: the Fiordland through regional and district planning, population which apparently does not identifying key areas of habitat for kiwi in warrant urgent action at present is District and Regional plans and presenting represented on several islands, e.g. submissions on proposals that may affect Resolution). such areas. Use of departmental funds to The great spotted kiwi is the only kiwi purchase land may be appropriate as a last species which has no population on an resort in exceptional cases. offshore island. It probably does not need 7.b Encourage the safer use of leg-hold this insurance now but might in future, traps and cyanide baits for possums. especially if monitoring shows those in sub- (Conservancies, Advocacy & Information). alpine regions of the mainland are in decline. Possible candidates include Pitt, Information exists that allows Great Barrier and Codfish, none of which recommendations to be made to possum contain kiwis. The evaluation proposed hunters to set traps and baits in certain 27

ways to minimise impacts on kiwis. A leaflet forests might alter their practices to help should be produced with this information kiwis, but at the same time achieve their (see plan 10.4., p.38). production objectives. 7.c Develop `1080' and cyanide baits 7.f Minimise road deaths of kiwis. that are unattractive to kiwi. (Science & Place signs on roads in areas where kiwis Research). are being killed (e.g. Waipoua), suggesting care when driving at night. (Conservancies). 7.d Minimise impacts of dogs on kiwis. (Conservancies, Advocacy & Information). Deaths on roads may be significant in some areas to judge by the results at Dogs can clearly have a drastic Waipoua. impact on kiwi populations as the Waitangi example showed, and there have been cases OBJECTIVE 8: MANAGE RECOVERY of birds being killed in other areas. Dogs OF KEY MAINLAND POPULATIONS are currently not permitted in National Parks without a special permit, and some Explanation: people advocate a similar ban over all The results of the research identified in forests protected by the Crown. However it objective 4 should enable a well-directed should be noted that pigs may be significant effort to be made to manage some mainland predators of kiwis and concern has been populations to bring about their recovery. expressed about high numbers in some The ultimate aim would be for such areas. Hunting with dogs may be an populations to become self-sustaining effective way of controlling pig numbers, without intervention, but the best that may and the possibility of individual dogs being be possible in the short-term is to bring them left in forests overnight as a threat to kiwis, to a point that they require only minimal may be a justifiable risk. It seems there is As such management may insufficient evidence to ban dogs from large intervention. prove costly, it is important that it is areas and the plan advocates research (as Plan 4.1) to clarify this question. Until the directed at key populations identified from results of that research are available, the the results of objectives 1-3. As mentioned approach favoured would be to focus on key earlier (objective 4), it may be appropriate populations, which will be identified for the first management initiative of this through objectives1, 2 and 3. Restrictions type to be combined with research on the could be placed on the use of dogs in these, threats facing a population. This speeds up and ifpigs were a problem, attempts would the process, for management does not then be made to control them by other means. have to wait for all the results of research but can begin and be modified as these are 7.e Advocate management practices that produced. are compatible with kiwi conservation to the owners of exotic forests. (Conservancies, Plan: Advocacy & Information). 8.a Initiate a programme to manage a large area of Crown-owned native forest to Some large populations of kiwis in Taranaki and Northland live in habitats directly benefit its kiwi population. which are managed mainly for production (Conservancies). rather than conservation. These birds are There is little point in monitoring a exposed to practices which both harm and number of mainland populations of kiwi, if favour them, and their persistence depends declines cannot be halted or reversed once in part on the balance between the two. R. they have been identified. If this proves to Colbourne (cited by Powlesland, 1988) has be the case, the only action remaining is to listed ways in which the managers of exotic transfer a genetically diverse sample of 28 individuals to islands and captivity, and 1) Research: leave those remaining to struggle on as best - to develop the ability to breed all as they can. species in captivity. The ability to Sooner or later, our ability to manage artificially incubate eggs and rear chicks mainland populations in situ has to be is necessary if wild populations are to be tested. The East Coast population of North supplemented with the release of sub- Island brown kiwis is one that provides this adults, as suggested as an option for opportunity. There is no doubt that it is Okarito kiwis. We may also be faced declining, for reasons that have probably with emergency situations in which birds been correctly identified (McLennan, 1988 could be temporarily held or bred in and in press). The population in Urewera captivity before re-introduction to the National Park would be the best one to wild. manage in this region because: 1) their 2) Advocacy: forest habitat is both extensive and secure, The nocturnal habits of kiwis make it 2) the birds are still present in some parts of very difficult for people to see them. it in reasonable numbers, and 3) the Rather than encourage disturbance of activities of both possum trappers and pig birds in the wild, the continuing use of a hunters can be more readily managed self-sustaining North Island brown kiwi within the boundaries of the Park. population in captivity is thought Which population is chosen will justified. depend on the first year results of the North Island brown kiwis have been surveys in objectives 1 and 2. For example housed and bred successfully in captivity if the Okarito brown kiwi is shown to be for at least 30 years. There are currently distinct and present in sufficient numbers for about 80 in captivity in New Zealand and management in situ to be attempted, this 20 overseas, which between them raise might be the priority. some 13 to 17 chicks each year (R. 8.b Develop through research and then Goudswaard (International stud-book advocate management practices that are keeper for N.I. brown kiwi), pers. compatible with kiwi conservation to comm.). Captive females lay up to eight farmers whose land includes kiwi habitat. eggs a year, more than twice as many as (Science & Research, Conservancies, their wild counterparts. Most curators Advocacy & Information). allow the eggs to be incubated naturally Based on the information collected by for about a month, then transfer them to Potter (1990), we can recommend farmers an artificial brooder for the remaining 40 to retain and protect bush remnants to 50 days. Techniques for brooding adjacent to areas of forest inhabited by them artificially from day 1 are not well kiwis. With further research, detailed established, mainly because it is not yet recommendations on stocking of areas of clear how often the egg should be turned. rough farmland and scrub should become The world-wide captive population of available. North Island brown kiwi is now self- OBJECTIVE 9: DEVELOP THE sustaining, with productivity just EXPERTISE TO BREED ALL KIWI exceeding death rate. A significant TAXA IN CAPTIVITY number of females die when they are about to lay for the second or third time, Explanation: for reasons that are not known. The plan's first priority is conservation of There are few South Island brown kiwis kiwis in the wild, but it supports keeping of in captivity, and those that are have not them in captivity for two main reasons: 29

bred. Given the marked differences now development of a specific facility for captive being found between the reproduction of kiwi research. North Island and Stewart Island/South Plan: Island brown kiwis (R. Colbourne, pers. comm.), it is likely that techniques 9.a Develop a captive management plan applied to North Island brown kiwis in for kiwi and appoint co-ordinator(s) to captivity are not readily transferable to manage the captive programmes of each South Island birds. These require species. (Protected Species Policy Division specific work undertaken on them. (PSPD)). Little spotted kiwis are the most difficult 9.b Bring further great spotted, little of the three species to keep and breed spotted and South Island (or Stewart Island because most die soon after being taken brown kiwi) into captivity to facilitate into captivity. An artificial diet which research on husbandry of these taxa. suits them has not yet been developed, so (PSPD, Conservancies, Science & Research, the birds can be kept only in large zoos, Massey University). enclosures with a wide range of natural 9.c Develop better artificial diets for all foods. Captive pairs have bred twice, in species. (Science & Research, Massey both cases by incubating the egg University, zoos). themselves. Artificial incubation has been tried using the procedures 9.d Investigate means of reducing death developed for brown kiwis, without rates of captive adults, particularly females. success. (Science & Research, Massey University, zoos). Great spotted kiwis have been held in captivity for some years, but their 9.e Develop better techniques for mortality has been high, perhaps because incubating eggs artificially, especially those most have arrived there in an injured of little spotted kiwi. (Science & Research, condition. Attempts to breed them have Massey University, zoos). been successful twice, using a Outcome: combination of natural and artificial Knowledge that will allow us to take any incubation. No breeding pairs are held in kiwi taxa into captivity, either as eggs or captivity today. Two established pairs adults, and breed it successfully. were lost this year when the females died just before they were about to lay. OBJECTIVE 10: ENCOURAGE Research is required to: PUBLIC INTEREST AND - develop better artificial diets for all I NVOLVEMENT IN KIWI species, CONSERVATION - reduce the death rates of captive adults, especially females, Explanation: - develop better techniques for incubating Kiwis are birds of great significance to eggs artificially, most New Zealanders. Their conservation especially those of little spotted kiwi, on the mainland can be greatly assisted by - develop techniques for breeding South the public through the stance they adopt to Island brown kiwis in captivity. issues like forest clearance or pig hunting, Organisations likely to be involved in and through direct involvement in projects this research include zoos that have such as the Kiwi Call Scheme. Certain particular expertise with kiwis, and Massey groups, such as possum trappers, can have University who are planning the significant effects on kiwis through the way they carry out their activities. For these 3 0

reasons advocacy and education are leaflet to replace that produced by the NZ important elements of this recovery Wildlife Service in 1986. Particular targets programme. Responsibility in this area falls for such a leaflet would be landowners with on all who are involved in kiwi kiwis on their land and those taking dogs conservation, but several specific initiatives into native forest, in addition to the general can be proposed as below: public. (Recovery Group, Advocacy & Plan: Information). 10.a Evaluate proposals to transfer l0.d Produce a leaflet for those kiwis to `open sanctuary' islands where they involved in trapping and poisoning of can act as a resource for advocacy and possums, identifying techniques that will education, (e.g. Tiritiri Matangi for the minimise risks to kiwis. Such a leaflet could northern area). (Recovery Group). go out with each possum hunting licence. (Recovery Group, Advocacy & 10.b Encourage the display of North Information). island brown kiwis at suitable zoological gardens here and overseas. Work with these 10.e Encourage the involvement of institutions to present accurate information volunteers in kiwi surveys so that they can on kiwi conservation. (Recovery Group, develop the expertise to assist in continuing zoo industry, Advocacy & Information). monitoring of populations. (Conservancies). l0.c Produce a revised information

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Critical Path Introduction The critical path and budget that follow reflect the need for balance between information and action discussed earlier. The first phase (Year I and part Year 2) involves gathering further information on the kiwi `resource', while at the same time continuing work to safeguard the little spotted kiwi and advocate the conservation of all species. The second phase continues rescue action for endangered kiwis (the little spotted and any others identified in the first phase), sets up monitoring of all species, and begins research on the factors affecting mainland populations. The third phase builds on the research on mainland populations to undertake management of them on a long-term basis. This phase could be combined with elements of the research of the second phase in an experimental management approach. The path should be taken as a guide only. As soon as sufficient information is obtained to effectively undertake a given management action this should occur. Priorities are shown within some objectives. The proposed timing below reflects to some extent the priority between different objectives, but recognises that projects that require significant funds (see Budget) or particular expertise have to occur sequentially.

3 1 32 Note: Research projects have been identified throughout this plan in most objectives. The priorities for the 1991/92 year are as follows: Genetics (all species) (Objective 2), monitoring technique (Obj. 3), evaluating options for S.I. brown kiwi at Okarito (Obj. 4), determine recruitment of Kapiti Island little spotted kiwi population (Obj. 5), captive research on South Island brown, little and great spotted kiwis (Obj. 9). Priorities for later years will be set by the Department of Conservation in conjunction with the Recovery Group, depending on the information then available. The priority is likely to be given to work needed for endangered taxa, and work to determine the threats to mainland populations (Obj. 4).

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Budget

This budget aims to reflect true costs each project will vary considerably including the time of staff directly involved depending on who undertakes the work, i.e. in projects. It can only be a guide for the DOC staff, private consultants or other overheads which have been estimated for agencies.

OBJECTIVE: 1991/2 1992/3 1993/4 1994/5 1995/6 1. Survey 250 200 10 10 10 2. Genetics 50 10 3. Monitoring 30 30 30 30 30 4. Research on Threats 50 200 250 250 250 5. Little Spotted Kiwi 40 50 50 20 20 6. Islands for Brown/Great Spotted 20 7. Manage to Reduce Declines 30 20 20 20 20 8. Manage to Recover Populations 150 150 150 9. Captive Breeding 40 40 10 10 10 10. Advocacy 20 10 10 10 10

TOTAL ($000's) 530 560 530 500 500

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References

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The little spotted kiwi - a hunted and submitted to the Journal of the Royal Society of New destroyed species. Forest and Bird 210: 29-32. Zealand. Reid, B., Ordish, R.G. and Harrison, M. 1982. An McLennan, J.A. 1985. Results of kiwi surveys at analysis of the gizzard contents of 50 North Island brown Poarangi and Aotuhia farm settlements. Confidential kiwis, Apteryx australis mantelli, and notes on feeding report to Department ofLands and Survey, Taranaki. observations. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 5: 76-85. December, 1985, 5pp. Reischeck, A. 1930. Yesterdays in Maoriland. New McLennan, J.A.; Rudge, M.R. and Potter, M.A. 1987. Zealand, Whitcombe and Tombs. Range size and denning behaviour of brown kiwi, Apteryx Roderick, C. 1983. South Island brown kiwi (A. a. australis mantelli, in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. New australis). New Zealand Wildlife Service, unpublished Zealand Journal of Ecology 10: 97-107. report. McLennan, J.A. 1988. Breeding of North Island Rothschild, W. 1893. 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(Convener). 1990. Checklist of the Science Progress Reports, 1988189: 49-56. birds of New Zealand. Ornithological Society of New Oliver, W R B 1955. New Zealand Birds. A.H. & Zealand, Inc. A.W. Reed, Wellington. Williams, G.R. and Given, D.R. 1981. The Red Data Pascoe, J. 1957. Mr ExplorerDouglas. A.H. & A.W. Book of New Zealand. Wellington, Nature Conservation Reed, Wellington. Council.

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