19-E-0564 / DOC 6063099
10 September 2019
Dianne Maxwell
via FYI.org.nz
Dear Ms Maxwell
Thank you for the Official Information Act (OIA) request you submitted to the Office
of Hon Eugenie Sage on 7 August 2019, regarding kiwi populations in areas with, and
without, pest control. The Minister has transferred your request to the Department of
Conservation to provide a response.
Before considering your request, we have provided some contextual information that
is relevant to your request.
No monitored kiwi have died as a direct result of 1080 poisoning
The Department has studied the effects of 1080 operations on more than 600
monitored kiwi and found that none of those kiwi died as a result of 1080 poisoning.
In fact, 1080 operations provide a significant benefit to kiwi by creating a window
where all resident stoats (and likely all resident ferrets) are killed and their numbers
are suppressed long enough for kiwi to have survival and recruitment levels that are
well above the threshold required to maintain their population.1
The following published research papers support these findings and suggest that kiwi
are most likely to die as a result of predation or impact with vehicles, rather than as a
result of 1080 poisoning:
• H Robertson et al., “Experimental management of Brown Kiwi
Apteryx
mantelli in central Northland, New Zealand”,
Bird Conservation
International (2010);
• H Robertson et al., “Landscape-scale applications of 1080 pesticide benefit
North Island brown kiwi (
Apteryx mantelli) and New Zealand fantail
(
Rhipidura fuliginosa) in Tongariro Forest, New Zealand”
Notornis (2019)
Vol. 66: 1-15;
• H Robertson et al., “Survival of brown kiwi exposed to 1080 poison used for
control of brushtail possums in Northland, New Zealand”
Wildlife Research
(1999) 26, 209-214; and
• RJ Pierce, and W Sporle, “Causes of kiwi mortality in Northland”,
Conservation Advisory Science Notes No. 169 (1997).
1 H Robertson et al., “Landscape-scale applications of 1080 pesticide benefit North Island brown kiwi
(Apteryx mantelli) and New Zealand fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) in Tongariro Forest, New Zealand”
Notornis (2019) Vol. 66: 1-15 at p.12
Conservation House -
Whare Kaupapa Atawhai
PO Box 10 420, Wellington 6143
Telephone (04) 471 0726, Fax (04) 381 3057
DOC works in partnerships to save kiwi
There are approximately 70,000 kiwi in New Zealand. At present, only around 24% of
these kiwi are under a conservation management regime, leaving 76% of kiwi
populations unmanaged.2 Kiwi populations that are under conservation management
are increasing, however populations that are not being managed are decreasing.
The Department has been working to recover kiwi populations for nearly 30 years. In
doing so, it has established over a hundred partnerships, including with tangata
whenua, community groups, philanthropists, captive facilities, academics and
scientists. For an introduction to this work, we suggest you read the latest Kiwi
Recovery Plan (2018-2028), which can be accessed via the following link:
www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/kiwi/docs-work/. The following graph from the Kiwi Recovery Plan (2018-2028) illustrates the
relationship between the proportion of each kiwi population that is managed and the
estimated rates of annual population increase or decrease for ten types of kiwi.
Your OIA request
The information you have requested is held by a number of DOC offices across the
country, in both electronic and physical form.
For example, information relating to kiwi numbers is held by local DOC offices that
are responsible for monitoring kiwi within their respective regions. The broad scope
of your request, particularly in relation to kiwi numbers from the past 20 years, also
2 J Innes et al, “Saving a national icon: preliminary estimation of the additional cost of achieving kiwi
population stability or 2% growth”
Landcare Research contract report LC2136 prepared for Kiwi for
kiwis (2015).
means some information is likely to be captured in physical documents that have
been archived and are stored at offsite archive storage sites. To respond to your
request, we will therefore need to consult with each local DOC office and collate the
information they hold, and check that collated data against information captured in
archived physical files.
This is also the case with aerial 1080 and other pest control operations that have been
carried out by the Department. The nature and scope of your request therefore means
responding to that request (to the extent we hold that information) requires
substantial collation and research. We are therefore refusing your request under
section 18(f) of the OIA.
We have carefully considered our obligations under section 18A of the OIA which
imposes a duty to consider charging for the work required to grant a request or
extending the time limit to respond before refusing a request under section 18(f).
Because of the scale of the necessary work, as well as the volume of requests we are
presently dealing with, we have determined that it is not reasonably practicable to
adopt either of those options in this instance. In taking this position we have
concluded that the time and resource required would be unreasonably burdensome
on the Department. Granting your request would unduly interfere with our day to day
operations including those under the OIA generally.
For the avoidance of doubt, we note that the Department does not hold information
about
all kiwi populations in New Zealand, nor does it hold information about
all
pest control operations that are carried out in New Zealand. We note that a number
of agencies and entities outside of the Department engage in kiwi conservation work
and conduct pest control operations. We are not aware of any agency that would have
a single centralised record of all the information you seek.
To the extent it assists your understanding of some of the issues you have raised, we
are providing you with information held by the Department in respect of kiwi that are
monitored by the Department.
1) Causes of kiwi deaths
The Department has collated data on the causes of kiwi deaths in Northland.
However, this data only captures information relating to kiwi deaths that have been
reported to the Department between 1996 and 2018.
The Department has also collated information relating to radio-tagged kiwi that have
died on DOC monitoring sites between 2016 to 2018.
We are providing you with copies of both these sets of data as they may provide you
with some context around the causes of kiwi deaths in Northland and across the
Department’s various monitoring sites. These are set out at Appendices 1 and 2
respectively (both attached to this letter).
2) Kiwi numbers in areas with no pest control
A study carried out by DOC staff compared the population growth of brown kiwi
under different management regimes, including an unmanaged regime that had no
pest control. The results of that study are set out in the published article
“Experimental management of Brown Kiwi Apteryx mantelli
in central Northland,
New Zealand”, which can be accessed via the following link:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959270910000444. 3) Kiwi numbers in areas with ground pest control only
Between 2002 to 2012, DOC staff studied the effects of landscape-scale stoat trapping
on kiwi populations in the Murchison Mountains. The study compared the
productivity and survival of southern brown kiwi in areas with and without trapping
networks. It was found that kiwi chick survival was significantly higher in the
‘trapped’ areas in comparison to those in ‘untrapped’ areas.
More information about this study can be found in the published article
“Landscape-
scale trapping of stoats (Mustela erminea
) benefits tokoeka (Apteryx australis
) in the
Murchison Mountains, Fiordland, New Zealand”, which can be accessed via the
following link
: https://www.notornis.osnz.org.nz/node/4333. In 2000, DOC staff also analysed the effects of conservation management (by
trapping pests and removing kiwi eggs and chicks from nests to avoid any risk of
predation) within five kiwi sanctuaries. Population modelling for the first five years
suggested that kiwi numbers in all five sanctuaries would increase as a result of the
conservation management. More detail about that analysis is set out in the published
article
“Varied success from the landscape-scale management of kiwi Apteryx
spp.
in five sanctuaries in New Zealand” which can be accessed via the following link:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959270912000044.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this
decision. Information about how you can make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Please note that this letter (with your personal details removed) may be published on
the Department’s website.
Yours sincerely
Amber Bill
Director Threats – Biodiversity
For Director-General
Appendix 1
Reported kiwi deaths in Northland (1996 - 2018)
Year
District
Age
Cause of death
Comments
1996 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
Died from dog bites
1996
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Unknown
1996 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Suspected dog
1996
Bay of Islands
Adult
Unknown
Possibly injured during land clearing or by predator
1996 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
Found on beach Aroha Is. Teeth marks legs, back & neck
1996
Bay of Islands
Unknown
Bird found dead in Paddock approx 2 months ago
1996 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Dog (pet)
Killed in backyard under clump of grass
1996 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
Bird found dead in Paddock approx 2 months ago
1996
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
1996 Bay of Islands
Dog
Supposedly killed by visiting dogs approx 6-8 weeks ago
1996 Bay of Islands
Dog (pet)
Killed by domestic pet
Cattle dog killed juv. Kiwi in nesting burrow-owner looking
into intensive training for dog. Parent of killed bird could not
be found after the attack, egg present in burrow was
1996 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Dog (cattle)
therefore removed
1996
Bay of Islands
Unknown
1996 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
1997
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
1997 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
1997
Bay of Islands
Chick
Mustelid
Mustelid
1997 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
Pair killed in nesting burrow
1997 Bay of Islands
Adult
Suspected dog
Found decomposing in backyard; pig dogs next door.
1997 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
Band R33063. Found dead on firebreak. Puncture marks
1997
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Unknown
1997
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
1997
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Buried
Bird was injured by dog-spent 1 week at Native Bird recovery
1997 Bay of Islands
Dog
Centre before its death (22/07/97)
1997
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Trap
Timms trap
1997
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Trap
Timms trap baited with cinnamon/apple
1997
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
1997
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
1997
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Decomposed body on roadside, 4 - 6 wks old.
1997
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Misadventure
1998
Bay of Islands
Chick
Unknown
1998
Bay of Islands
Mustelid
1998
Bay of Islands
Mustelid
1998
Bay of Islands
Mustelid
1998
Bay of Islands
Mustelid
1998
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Broken neck. First observed 27/5/98.
1998 Bay of Islands
Dog
On private property
Blood about head. Possibly hit by falling branch as it was
1998
Bay of Islands
Adult
Unknown
under one. Swollen cloaca.
1998
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Found at Marsden Cross gate
1998
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Picked up approx 1am 15/7/98. Estimated time of death
1998
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
11pm 14/7/98
100m from Kurapari Rd towards sea, out back of houses
(Gibson subdivision). Lying in ditch with water in it after
1998
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Drowned?
heavy rain.
1998 Bay of Islands
Dog (pet)
Found on driveway to house. Fresh
1998 Bay of Islands
Dog
Broken neck.
1998
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
1998
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Vehicle
1998
Bay of Islands
Natural
Killed night of 18/11. Found on Opito Bay Rd at top of
1998
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Rangitane Scenic Reserve. Tip of bill smashed
Off to the side of west side of road. Plastic surround of a
1998
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
licence plate found by the bird
1998
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Vehicle
Found opposite Orangewood Rd. Headless
1999
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Natural
1999
Bay of Islands
Misadventure
1999
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Found in middle of road.
Found on neighbours lawn 3m from bush edge, 25m from rd.
Feathers in clumps. Large bald patch right rump, blood on
1999
Bay of Islands
Unknown
edge of bill, no obvious wounds or puncture marks
Found on neighbours lawn 3m from bush edge, 25m from rd.
Feathers in clumps. Large bald patch right rump, blood on
1999 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
edge of bill, no obvious wounds or puncture marks
Found on ground with feathers scattered around. Injury
around head and underbelly. Owner has 1 dog & 1 cat. Kiwi
1999 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Suspected dog
frozen when brought in.
1999
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Handed in to Aroha Island
1999 Bay of Islands
Dog (farm)
Dog footprints seen in area. Found by farmer with stock.
2000
Bay of Islands
Unknown
2000
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
2000
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Vehicle
Found on road in early morning
2000
Bay of Islands
Unknown
2000
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle?
Moderate condition
Found next to road ~11am, still warm. Decayed kiwi found
2000
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
same place Dec/Jan
Found on observers property inside his electric fence. He
admitted his dogs had killed it. Decomposing when brought
2000 Bay of Islands
Dog (farm)
in.
2000
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Vehicle
Incident on 26 March 2000
2000
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Found 2m from side of driveway off Hatch property and 20m
2000
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle?
from Kurapari Rd. Good cond.
2000
Bay of Islands
Unknown
2000
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
2000
Bay of Islands
vehicle
Hit by vehicle turning into driveway, Rangitane Loop Rd. Died
2000
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
on way to vet.
2000
Bay of Islands
Unknown
Decomposed on side of road
2000
Bay of Islands
vehicle
2000
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Tyre mark over body
2000
Bay of Islands
Drowned?
Found in sea at Aroha Island. Decomposing when brought in
2000 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
Skinned and body to Massey
2000
Bay of Islands
Unknown
2000
Bay of Islands
Unknown
Dead kiwi dropped off at FNDC Kaikohe
2000 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
Dead kiwi dropped off at FNDC Kaikohe
2001
Bay of Islands
Unknown
Bird missing but all its feathers on driveway of house dogs
2001 Bay of Islands
Dog
nearby
2001 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
Bird found on track
2001 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
2001
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
2001
Bay of Islands
vehicle
2001
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Bird found on road
2001
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
2001
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
2001
Bay of Islands
vehicle
2001
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Found beside road
2001
Bay of Islands
Drowned
Drowned in Cooper's pond
Head crushed, hole in side of nest where bird was dragged
2001 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
out.
2001
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Observer heard vehicle travelling at speed, when he followed
2001
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Vehicle
he found bird freshly killed
2002
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
2002
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
2002
Bay of Islands
Unknown
Found on r/side by local couple handed to Arhoa. Went to rec
2002
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
centre as still alive.
2002
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Same bird that was run over a year ago and released
Found on track, fresh. Only head/neck/shoulder, one foot
and some feathers found all in one area less than 300mm in
2002
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Predation
diameter
Found on track, fresh. Only head/neck/shoulder, one foot
and some feathers found all in one area less than 300mm in
2002 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Suspected dog
diameter
2002 Bay of Islands
Chick
Suspected dog
Found on trapline
Children found kiwi freshly killed in orchard across the road
2002 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Dog
from their home. Had a large bite wound to the body.
2002
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Found by school children on farmland. On track on northern
2002 Bay of Islands
Adult
Suspected dog
side of Takou Stream (across from airstrip)
Have a poodle dog. Found by caretaker under pines 50m
2002 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
from house. Brought in by trapper on the property
Property owners have a dog and a cat, stray farm dogs seen
2003 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Suspected dog
on property. Wife found kiwi dead on their front lawn.
Property owner phoned FNDC dog ranger re 2 dogs found on
his property close to dead kiwi. Female dog seen to have kiwi
2003 Bay of Islands
Dog (wandering)
feathers around mouth. Dogs impounded same day
2003
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Found beside road
2003 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
Autopsy confirmed
2003 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
Retrieved from person on Cape Brett Track
Run over at 8.30pm 16/3. Took to vet who treated it for
2003
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
shock. Was dead when vets arrived next morning.
Pig dog owner phoned in incident. Dog killed kiwi on hunting
2003 Bay of Islands
Dog (pig)
trip.
Transmitterised adult female. Mortality signal detected 16/6.
Badly broken leg, severe bruising, puncture wound. Found
2003 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
under tangle fern in swamp to north of Endowment Forest.
2003
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Tip of bill injured, possibly internals. Taken to vet
2003
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Found on roadside, taken to Aroha, then brought to BOIAO
Killed by pet golden retriever. Kiwi found dead in back yard by
property owner. Pet dog left off chain overnight from 10pm -
2003 Bay of Islands
Dog (pet)
7am
2003
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
2003
Bay of Islands
Drowned
Drowned in pond on farm
2003
Bay of Islands
Unknown
Decomposed. Found beside paper road
2003 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
Decomposed. Found beside paper road
2003 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Dog
2004 Bay of Islands
Dog
2004
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Still warm when retrieved
2004 Bay of Islands
Adult
Suspected dog
Picked up by Opito Bay resident
Second hand info sounded as if people didn't want to report
2004 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
it.
2004 Bay of Islands
Dog (pet)
Went to Kamo vets then to WBRC. Bitten by a Jack Russell
2004 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
2004
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Young bird completelty pulverized by vehicle.
2004
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Bird hit on road by driver, couldn't stop
2004 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
Several large puncture wounds.
Wind blew roof off trap and kiwi was caught in Fenn trap,
2004
Bay of Islands
Trap
severely injured leg
2004
Bay of Islands
Mustelid
Stoat. Only leg remaining
2004
Bay of Islands
Mustelid
Stoat. Only leg and ribcage remaining
2004
Bay of Islands
Unknown
Decomposed - cause of death unknown
Body intact when found under fallen pine. Approx 3-4 weeks
dead. No obvious predation. Weight and bill not recorded at
2004 Bay of Islands
Adult
Suspected dog
time. Bill measured on skeleton but not easy to find cere.
Transmittered bird "Tess'. Band RA-0245. Body intact when
found under fallen pine. Approx 3-4 weeks dead. No obvious
predation. Weight and bill not recorded at time. Bill
2004
Bay of Islands
Unknown
measured on skeleton but not easy to find cere.
2004 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
2005
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Found on road, assumed to have been hit by car
RAMA/R-59146 TY 58; Band and Tx recovered - too
2005
Bay of Islands
Unknown
decomposed to determine COD; needs GPS co-ordinates
2005 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
Too decomposed to determine COD; needs GPS co-ordinates
Dog attack; dogs not on leash- getting possums & killed kiwi
2005 Bay of Islands
Dog (wandering)
in same hole as possum
Found on road during the day, no obvious injuries; blood
2005
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
around bill
Found dead on road returning from Opito Bay. "Its mate was
2005
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
freaking out in the drain, on the side of the road"
2005
Bay of Islands
Drowned
Fell in cesspit near watertank
Neighbour found it on side of road in morning still warm.
Brought into DOC office at 13h30. Has brood patch, seems to
2005
Bay of Islands
Vehicle?
be very good condition.
Found on rocks above high water mark "some distance from
any road". No puncture marks. Appears to have been hit due
2005
Bay of Islands
Unknown
to big bruised area and loss of feathers on one side.
Picked up at 6h45 on side of road, warm and bleeding. No
puncture makrs. Lots of feathers missing on right flank and
2005
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
some on left side. Some bleeding from mouth.
Young male kiwi left outside visitor centre. Found by staff in
2005 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
the morning of 16/12/05
2005
Bay of Islands
Unknown
Tip of bill damaged
2005
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Found in road
Found Kiwi dead returning home from Opito Bay at 8.15pm 3
bends before rangitane near Aratika, its mate was freaking
2006
Bay of Islands
vehicle
out on the side of the road.
Bird picked up at Opito Bay Boat ramp; bird still warm and
2006 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Dog
bleeding. Autopsy confirmed shaken by a large dog.
2006 Bay of Islands
Dog
Dog was observed to kill bird
Bird was found on the road in the early morning 200m NE of
2006
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Old basy Rd Te AnuAnu Rd intersection. Bird was still warm
2006 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
Observed the remains of a kiwi under a cow pat. Likely dog
Found 1 m from road, was still warm but no vehicles heard.
Disturbance heard outside landowners house and located
bird. Thought he may have disturbed something at the scene.
Suspected dog kill. Puncture left side of rib cage and feathers
2006 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
missing from hind legs consistent with being dogged
Bird found at high tide, likely to be dog kill, no obvious
2006 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
damage
Kiwi found in driveway in early morning. Looks to be
independent juvenile. Predation possibly by cat. Most
feathers gone, gut gone, 1 x leg bone stripped but still
2006
Bay of Islands
Predation
attached by skin
2006
Bay of Islands
Trap
Fenntrap - broken skull
Bird has ticks otherwise in good condition. Bird on road at
2006
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Bulls gorge and run over by vehicle at 5.50.
Bird found on the side of the road (100m) North side Wharau
Rd east of Quince's landing on uphill section after leaving
seal. Bird too decomposed to bring in. Ron mentioned a big
2006 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
problem with handling dogs.
Household has two dogs. Kiwi has trauma behind head & on
back of upper neck - consistent with small dog or mustelid
2006 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
attack
2006
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Bird picked up at 20.00 hrs by DOC staff and monitored
overnight and taken to vet the next morning. Bird- trauma to
last 10 mm of lower bill, trauma to tip of upper bill, birds feet
2006
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
cold, paralyzed legs. Vet euthanised it.
2006
Bay of Islands
Unknown
Bruising under skin
2006 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
Bruising under the skin
2006
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Damage to right rump and left shoulder likely vehicle
This is the 3rd dead kiwi observer has found within a 3year
period on her road, she would like Doc to place warning signs
2006
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
along the road to attract attention to kiwi
Big bird in good condition. Found lying in grass about a metre
2007
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
off the tarseal
Kiwi found on the way to Springbank school, cold but still
flexible, took it to school for the day for kids to look at bird,
said it was the second bird found at the same location,
2007
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
suspects road kill
2007 Bay of Islands
Adult
Suspected dog
Too decomposed
2007 Bay of Islands
Suspected dog
Warm when found, lots of mites & ticks
Bird hung up in tree after flood on farm. Could have been
washed down from anywhere around the catchment of the
2007
Bay of Islands
Unknown
Aratoro block.
Birds on Falls Rd at 10 or 11 am on Saturday or Sunday. Hawk
2007
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
was eating it when carcass retrieved.
2007
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Bird fround fresh on centreline at first light.
Bird had trauma on underside and lower back and feathers
missing. No obvious puncture wounds from a dog. Found
10m off cul de sac road on lawn. Dogs in the area as well.
2007
Bay of Islands
Unknown
Unknown cause.
Fenn trap cover turned over by pigs and exposed trap caught
2007
Bay of Islands
Trap
kiwi
2007
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
2007
Bay of Islands
Vehicle?
2007
Bay of Islands
Vehicle?
Found on edge of road, still fresh, feathers missing from left
leg hock, trauma in knee area & broken leg bones. Bird is sub-
adult very likely male that was in average/good condition.
2007
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Vehicle?
Ticks around head & under bill
Seen run over by vehicle on 21/11/07 at 20.30. Bird still alive
but died soon after. Held in freezer until they found our
2007
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
where to bring bird
Found outside private residence. Two birds killed by same
2007 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog (pet)
dog
2008
Bay of Islands
Mustelid
Cat or Stoat?
2008
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Found on driveway 13/4/08, good condition, ticks replaced by
new maggots around face so obviously left after hit,
2008
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
recovered after a day on driveway
2008
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Vehicle
Juvenile in good health
2008
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Found lying on yacht drive
Found in garden on John's Beach Road property in Doves Bay.
No apparent cause of death but bird is emanicated and has
2008
Bay of Islands
Unknown
some pink leisons on right leg.
Found in the morning on the side of driveway. Has damage on
one side of torso, no punture wounds. Looks like it was
2008
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
healthy enough
Found on front lawn of fenced property. Feathers missing and
teeth marks on lower neck/upper back area and also on left
side of neck. Broken left leg with feathers missing on inner
left leg. Feathers also missing on right rump area. Otherwise
2008 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog (pet)
good condition with no ticks.
This chick was very thin last handle. Body is badly
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
decomposed.
Chick found just alive outside nest. Had lots of yellow "stuff"
coming out of his belly button. Took him to vet, he was fly
blown also, not much chance of survival so he was euthanised
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Natural
at vet.
DEAD. Found washed up in flood debris at top of a pool in the
swamp, bottom of H. V decomposed so can't see much. Lots
of feathers amongst debris. Tx does not have time of death
2009
Whangarei
Sub-adult
Unknown
pulses. She was a lovely gentle Lady bird
2009
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Found by Hansen Road turnoff ( near 370 rapid number sign).
2009
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Unknown
Either a car or a dog.
Is badly decomposed but head attached. This chick was light
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
last time, may have died naturally?
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
Found dead on surface, no obvious cause of death
2009
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
Pretty good condition
Found tx in entrance of hole at base of standing tree. Found a
few feathers and part of bone that has been eaten. Hole size
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
etc looks very much like a stoat
Reasonably fresh but maggots in rear passage. Fresh blood at
2009
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
mouth. Dog bits on flanks. 42 mm incisor = very big dog.
This bird had previously survived a mustelids attack photos
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
taken
DEAD signal form hole in bank. Size of hole and appearance
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
makes it very likely a stoat kill. Didn't dig it up
Has been on mort for a while as unable to get to it. Not much
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
left of bird but area and hole size is very stoaty
DEAD. Found decomposed body under tall gorse. Likely stoat
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
kill
DEAD. Found one complete leg bone only all flesh eaten.
Found at entrance to hole in rotten log. Hole right size to be
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
stoat
Dead chick dogged by Rua + Manu. Stoat got to chick before
Todd could. Just a fresh leg, upper bill and base of skull and
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
the gut and yold sac and plenty of feathers. 15-20m W of nest
DEAD. Bird had chk tx (not mort) but found it freshly dead (no
more than 24 hours). Fresh blood around head/neck and
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
small hole in chest area to get organs. Stoat.
DEAD. Found leg bones and tx only. Only 8-10m from Nervous
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
Neds nest in stump marked July 08. Stoat
DEAD. Tracked mort signal to hole that looked very stoaty.
Didn't retrieve anything as need spade to dig out. Same area
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
as recent stoat kills.
DEAD. Found almost complete skeleton without head, no
flesh, rib bones eaten. Less than a week dead. At entrance to
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
a hole - stoaty
Unable to retrieve bird/tx last time and had another go today
with spade. Gave up! Too deep. Very stoaty, lined with pine
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
needles.
Observer was walking her two dogs and "found" a freshly
2009
Whangarei
chick
Dog (pet)
dead chick
Found dead 1.5-2m below his nest which has been dug out.
Evidence of large animal around nest (broken shrubs, earth
disturbance), dog prints and dog claw marks around nest and
surrounding area. 2 eggs in nest, 1 fertile egg broken - can see
foetus - the 2nd egg is still intact and was taken to WNBRC.
Kowhai is twisted up between shrubs with large patch of
feathers missing on side and big hole in bottom - probably
eaten since death. Large amounts of feathers in bunches
2009
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
between bird and nest, evidence of struggle.
Bird killed by fox terrier down hole (had to drag dog out, egg
2009 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog (pet)
in hole was recovered)
2009 Bay of Islands
Dog
Was found alive but died on arrival at vet
Found dead on routine trap round. Lying on side in 'normal'
posture, no obvious wounds or feather loss, fly blown. X-
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Natural
rayed (no abonormality detected) and body taken to WAO.
2009
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
Dragged from nest, also 2 fertile eggs
Oscar found dead lying on belly. Legs splayed behind him.
Patch of feather loss with red (old bruising?) flesh and there
looks to be puncture wounds. He is well dead and
decomposing. Quite a lot of feathers found around body in
2009
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
leaf litter. Post mortem definite dog kill
DEAD. On back feet and claws up, head twisted back, chunks
of feather around dead site. Obviously been mauled. Not
fresh at all. Near a pampas bush with lots of burrow holes in
2009
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
it.
Found while walking through bush. Most of the large bones,
including the skull and pelvis found on top of same flattened
2009
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
kiokio bones indicate the usual suspect - DOG
2009
Whangarei
Unknown
Seen dead on Marua rd cutting below the golf course.
Dead in nest with adult (B/W). Necropsy - no sign of
predation but bruising on belly and even up into neck -
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Natural
possibe kick victim?
Found chick freshly dead in creek (approx 2 days). Feels like
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
one leg is broken up high but otherwise no visual damage.
DEAD. Awaiting full necropsy. Body found on surface near
small water way where it hits the fence. Body intact, no sign
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
of predation
DEAD. Found dead in fresh cattle imprint, body is fresh (2-3
days). Left side is down and bill is facing up. Tx was on left leg.
I am 90%sure chick has been stood on by a cow. Weighed
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Misadventure
bird frozen
Found complete bird badly decomposed. Appears that has
been dragged until stuck. Site of death indicates likely stoat.
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
Another chick (6C97AE1) found dead same day in same area.
Found dead (all of body) under rushes. Decomposed but still
bit fleshy. Site of body indicates likely stoat (close to creek
and undr cover of rushes). Also found Manioro dead today in
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
same area
Suspicious of location - checked to find dead bird. Dead for
2009
Whangarei
Unknown
some time (4-6 weeks?) Tx did not switch to Mortality
Pete found just a skeleton, ran scanner over ground and
picked up tp number and tp. Turned out to be Itchy who died
on 1/08/07 at Thorn's bush which is ages away. We assume
that bird was returned to the area and perhaps put just over
the fenceline or maybe it was buried and then something has
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
scavenged it?
DEAD. Difficult to tell from what as decomposed. Only
approx. 50m from antoher dead chick (Porky) today. All body
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
including head
DEAD. Difficult to tell from what as decomposed. Only
approx. 50m from antoher dead chick (Torrence) today. All
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
body including head
DEAD. All of body including head. Difficult to say why as
2009
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
decomposed
2010
Whangarei
Unknown
Phoned in with very litte data
2010
Bay of Islands
Chick
Drowned
In family pool
DEAD. Phone call from landowner to say kiwi chick found
dead by dog run in his section. Dog is on chain and has wire
the chain can run along. Approx. 36 hours after chick first
2010
Whangarei
chick
Dog (pet)
handled. Picked up the next day
DEAD. Found on surface, lying on its left side, back of the
neck from base of the head eaten out. Situation very tight, no
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
room for a cat, likely mustelid
Wild chick found dead on 16/02/10. No obvious injuries. No
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
fly eggs. TH picked up 17/02/10.
Found dead - only leg bones and feet - no flesh - has been
dead some time. Chick has been missing since tagged at nest -
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Predation
likely hawk has picked it up
2010
Whangarei
Sub-adult
Dog
Autopsy confirmed
DEAD, no body found, tx mort sig tracked to a pile of
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
vegetation in a dry creek, only feathers and tx found
2010
Bay of Islands
Unknown
Knock to head
Found only leg bone and feathers in small hole in log. Looks
very much like stoat den. He's been dead for some time. 3
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
weeks? Long way from last handle and out of 1080 area
Found dead by island volunteer close to release site (released
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
on 23/03/10). Frozen and sent for post-mortem
Bird retrieved offf road still alive dies early hrs on 6/04/10.
Likely head neck damage Novisible external trauma S Mc
2010
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Manus pers. Obs.
2010
Bay of Islands
Adult
vehicle
DOG KILL. In bush in from farm land E-SE side of LFB. Clumps
of feathers on ground and stuck to shrubs, extending 5m up
hill from body. Neck at strange angle - broken? Very
decomposed so can't see tissue wounds. Body 5m above a
2010
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
nest site.
appears to have been yet another dog kill, but as it was found
2010
Whangarei
Sub-adult
Suspected dog
ona driveway, vehicle hit is a remote possibility.
Bird in his posession asked him to bring it in. Found on road
2010
Bay of Islands
Vehicle?
side.
Most of body eaten and flyblown. Right thigh and both lower
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
legs intact. Likely stoat predation
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
Stoat
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Dog
Dog kill. Feathers missing either side of upper back. No ID
2010
Whangarei
Unknown
No sign of predation
Kiwi killed by dog and buried by owner and reported by
2010 Bay of Islands
Dog (pet)
partner. Exhumed by DOC. TM
Female found dead on Horeke Road early morning still warm.
2010
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Injuries consistent with road kill. SM
2010
Whangarei
Records incomplete
2010
Whangarei
Dog
DEAD. Bird found dead - presumably drowned in the end of a
2010
Whangarei
Drowned
narrow blocked off culvert
Old female found dead on bridge had been run over a
2010
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
number of times
Builders found bird dead on building site, thought it was killed
by a dog , however injuries indicate that it may have survived
being run over by a vehicle and died a short distace from
2010
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
road.
2010
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Found on road at 1850 hrs likely Car
2010
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Found on Road
Doberman. Dog was in garden, dog bolted and chewed kiwi
in long grass/weeds. Dog had been through aversion training
2010 Bay of Islands
Dog (pet)
in July 2010
2010
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
DEAD. Lying under ponga log. Possible bruising on bottom.
Dog. Can’t find anything else like feathers around the scene.
2010
Whangarei
Adult
dog
Was on a nest.
DEAD. Head severed but present. This chick currently only
recorded under 38 HH. The Knight's chick. No site description
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
or GPS acc given.
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
Body intact - Mod state of decomp.
DEAD. Stuffed 3/4m up a fallen hollow mamaku trunk creek
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
edge. Body brought back to necropsy.
DEAD. Eaten out under brake in wattles. Body brought back
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
for necropsy. Rippy's chick (69 HH)
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
DEAD. No apparent cause. No GPS location recorded.
2010
Bay of Islands
Vehicle?
DEAD. Mort signal tracked to very tight gully. Bird intact with
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
damage to neck and back of head caved in. No gps given
Stoat - back of head, down neck all flesh gone. Opened up,
eaten out inside. Flesh eaten off 1 leg. Feathers all through
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
warren. Photos taken. Tx turned off for reuse
Kiwi handed to Kiwi foundation which gave it to DOC on
2010
Bay of Islands
vehicle
1/12/2010
Seems to be in top of tree. He couldn't get up there cause no
branches strong enough. Dropped by a hawk? Seems too high
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Predation
to be stoat dragged
DEAD. Stoat seen at kill site. Tx hadn't flicked to MORT - bird
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
dead at least 3 days
DEAD. Stoat. Very fresh, blood around neck area. Have
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
photos
DEAD. Stoat. Had to dig out 1/2m bleow surface. Found dead
(only 1-2 days). Guts all eaten out and flesh around neck
eaten. Another chick without tx also in stoat den (approx
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
week dead)and rat!. Have photos
Body lengthwise in tunnel with feet facing upstream. Eaten
parts underneath. Head completely removed, most of body
eaten. Left leg eaten, leg bones and lower 2/3 of spine intact.
R leg and some of back uneaten. No sign of other body parts
in vicinity. Very few feathers at site. Prob eaten elsewhere.
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
Maggots 10-12mm long. Est 5 days or so since death.
DEAD. Eaten out and headless in creek under runner. Only 5m
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
from last hanle site. Stoaticide
Body lengthwise in tunnel with feet facing upstream. Eaten
parts underneath. Head completely removed, most of body
eaten. Left leg eaten, leg bones and lower 2/3 of spine intact.
R leg and some of back uneaten. No sign of other body parts
in vicinity. Very few feathers at site. Prob eaten elsewhere.
2010
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
Maggots 10-12mm long. Est 5 days or so since death.
DEAD. Hind legs found plus small amount of feathers. Flesh
gone off legs, flyblown, intestines moderately rather than
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
serverly autolysed. Likely stoat preadation
DEAD. Pelvis and legs only - only 40-50m from Atarau's chick
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
death bed.
DEAD. 5m from stoat trap 14. Definite stoat. Neck flesh eaten
and some flesh from side of body. Found under kikuyu - too
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
tight for cat.
DEAD. Very decomposed. Most of body including head is
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
present
DEAD. Dismembered and some pieces dragged into the log.
Other pieces at entrance. Feathers spread throughout. Only
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
released a week ago.
Just feet left, leg bones and a bit of dried out flesh and a few
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
feather stumps. Looks like scavenged after death
DEAD. Found foot and leg bone with tx inside ponga that is
lying on ground. Laso lots of feathers. Definitely stoat. Didn't
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
bring back any body parts. Bird does not have a tp
DEAD. Only tx, some of the paunch and smashed femur. Stoat
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
scat found on site
DEAD. Found dead on slip in paddock. Bit decomposed but
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
appears that neck area may be bruised
DEAD. In same stoat den as Korako 14/02/11. Not much left
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
of body.
DEAD. Fresh (1-2 days) in stoat hole. Neck eaten and felsh
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
around one leg. Head still attached to body by skin
DEAD. Fresh (1-2 days) in stoat hole. Neck eaten and felsh
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
around one leg. Head still attached to body by skin
DEAD. Only feathers and what looked like pieces of skull
found with tx. Bill found less than metre away from tx. Must
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
be very hungry stoat! Too tight for cat or harrier
DEAD. Tx on MORT 4/2/10/3/7 @ 4.30pm. Had moved quite
a long way from release site, quite decomposed so cause of
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
death unclear.
DEAD. On surface of ground. Bones with feet of legs, part of
pelvis attached to one leg. Flesh stripped off, feathers also on
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
ground. No other body parts found
Bird is fresh (1-2 days) and has bruising around neck and head
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
- STOAT
DEAD. Found head and body separately - Fresh. Appears to be
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
a stoat kill
DEAD. No obvioius signs of predation however there are
lesions on legs and feet ?been hooked up on something?
Photos taken. No broken bones deteced or obvious brusing
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Misadventure
under feathers
Found dead, very emaciated bird possible disease starvation
2011
Bay of Islands
Adult
unknown
and dog (no obvious trauma but roaming dogs in the area)
DEAD. Only feathers and what looked like pieces of skull
found with tx. Bill found less than metre away from tx. Must
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
be very hungry stoat! Too tight for cat or harrier
2011
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Found on side of road
2011 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog (hunting)
Killed in Hedgerow at night while out hunting
DEAD. Freshly dead 1-2 days. Damage and brusing around
head/neck. Has been dragged until jammed in tunnel -
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
STOAT!
Found alive out in the middle of a paddock, died later.
2011
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Unknown
Emaciated.
In open paddock just outside boundary of LUFB. No sign of
predation. Sent to Massey - pathology showed bird died as a
2011
Whangarei
Adult
Natural
result of neural larval migrans
2011
Whangarei
Adult
Dog (pet)
Found on owners deck with dog DNA on it
2011
Bay of Islands
Unknown
Found alive in driveway, Died on the way to BRC
2011
Whangarei
Dog
Positive dog DNA recovered, but not to individual dog level
Found floating in a creek pool in Mimiwhangata by a hunter.
2011
Whangarei
Adult
Unknown
Photos taken
DOG KILL. Unknown large female. On back, masses of
feathers around. Teeth marks and big hole on back. Feathers
2011
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
up hill 12m away also.
Injuries to the back of the head, found on a side of a
2011
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Vehicle
driveway.
2011
Bay of Islands
Adult
Unknown
Returned to Kerikeri from Bird Recovery centre.
Found freshly dead close to nest. Does not look like dog kill,
2011
Whangarei
Adult
Mustelid
maybe ferret - fresh blood around neck area.
DEAD. Quite rotten, large maggots, feathers gone from bum
area and possibly puncture wounds, photos taken. Spoke to
2011
Whangarei
Suspected dog
surrounding landowners, one has 2 large dogs
2011
Bay of Islands
Adult
unknown
Appear to have bruising around upper body.
2011
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
Wild bird. Found by observer while walking her dogs, dog kill,
photos taken, landowners visited to remind them of dog/kiwi
2011
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
issues
2011
Whangarei
Adult
Records incomplete
DEAD. Had moved quite a long way from release site, quite
2011
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
decomposed so cause of death unclear.
Found on side of road, no sign of cat or dog attack, probably
2011
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Vehicle
hit by a car
Found dead by observer after his dog attacked it on his rural
farm property (near house) A long distance from any likely
2011 Bay of Islands
Dog (farm)
habitat.
2012
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
Owner of dog brought it in
DEAD. Worn patch in ground under body as if it was a slow
2012
Whangarei
Unknown
death.
Found DEAD, up to 2 wks, Head and neck missing, appears to
2012
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
have been predated
Found dead in siting/lying position, no obvious cause of
2012
Whangarei
Unknown
death.
2012
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
Stoat
2012
Whangarei
Unknown
Only skeleton left, no obvious broken bones
Feathers from both legs missing and lots of trauma. 1 large
2012 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
tooth mark on inside of right leg
Found 50 m from a house with 8 terrier type dogs running
2012 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
loose. Dog ranger seized 2 dogs
2012 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Dog (pet)
Found in dog's mouth in fenced back yard.
Wild bird. No tp. Approximated bill length 80; weight 800-
1000g.Drowned in goldfish pond 3 weeks ago, only bones and
2012
Whangarei
Drowned
skin left - left in situ.
DEAD. Drowned in pond, no tp, big male or female still
2012
Whangarei
Adult
Drowned
growing? Very rotten
2012
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
Dog had been through kiwi aversion training/edge of track
2012
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
Killed by dog that had been through aversion training
DEAD. Killed by landowners dog, dog has had aversion. No
2012
Whangarei
Dog (pet)
blood
Carcass found at the outlet of the main culvert running
through the property. Looked to be a week old. No obvious
trauma marks on it. Position of bird strongly suggests that it
2012
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Drowned
was washed out of Culvert in recent heavy rain event.
Tx on mort. Chick has damage/bruising around neck and head
2012
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
- brain cavity has been eaten out. Likely stoat.
2012
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
Killed from nest found dead at entrance
2012
Whangarei
Adult
Vehicle
One of three recent road kills
Lice sent from this bird to TePapa, very good cond. Was
2012
Whangarei
Sub-adult
Vehicle
xrayed by WNBRC
2012
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
chick too decomposed to establish cause of death
2012 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Dog
4 days dead, advocacy done with locals/ 4th kiwi killed by
2012
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
dogs in this area in 2 years
2012
Whangarei
Sub-adult
Drowned
Drowned in trough
2012 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog (wandering)
Found the morning after a pig hunter lost two dogs in area
2012
Bay of Islands
Unknown
2012
Bay of Islands
Unknown
2012
Bay of Islands
Unknown
Some trauma apparent on right shoulder/chest and upper
2012
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Vehicle?
right leg
2012
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Drowned
Waterlogged and bloated, found in swimming pool
2012
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Vehicle
Badly damaged bird required euthanaisia
Only leg and tx recovered after big dig. Stoat den 50m Sth of
2012
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
nest
2012
Whangarei
Sub-adult
Drowned
Drowned in pool
2012
Bay of Islands
Chick
Trap
Cat trap (leg=hold) set on ground
Most likely attacked by 2 blue heeler dogs that wandered
2012 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog (wandering)
away from owners property
2012 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog (hunting)
Dog previously kiwi aversion trained
More than likely Handsomes second chick was reported
2012
Whangarei
Chick
Predation
found dead, suspected cat
2012
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
Found by member of public on track
2012 Bay of Islands
Chick
Dog
Mortality signal from middle of dam - presumed drowned.
2012
Whangarei
Drowned
Couldn't recover body.
On Farm. Caught in trap. Action taken: bird rescued and taken
2012
Bay of Islands
Trap
to Whangerei recovery centre. Later died.
2012
Bay of Islands
Unknown
Bird reported not recovered Poss dog.
Observer Jogging along road am found bird and placed under
2013
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
bush near Matauwhi Bay sign
2013
Bay of Islands
Adult
unknown
2013
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
Chased into dam by dog
2013
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
Found on roadside 6 am.Road kill. Was released at 150th
2013
Whangarei
Adult
Vehicle
celebration in 2007.
Tx says lunchtime on the 19th is death time(2-4-10-2-
7@4:50pm on the 20/5/13). Eco Gene Report DOC-2522359
2013
Whangarei
Adult
Mustelid
indicated stoat DNA
Found by fisherman and handed in a day later after freezing,
2013
Whangarei
Adult
Unknown
*bird pretty rotten so not an acurate weight
Found on cut track next to Hugh Crawford reserve, heavy
2013
Whangarei
Sub-adult
dog
bruising, kahu plucked
2013
Whangarei
Adult
dog
Private residence
Dog kill. Wild bird, no ID. Found beside house, pet dog, owner
lives alone and has dog for company and security. Told her to
be extra careful, her dog doesn't wander. Another examle of
2013
Whangarei
Dog (pet)
a kiwi aversion trained dog taking kiwi.
2013
Bay of Islands
Adult
Unknown
2013 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Dog
Trauma to breast bone, puncture wound
2013
Bay of Islands
Adult
Trap
Caught in kill trap
2013
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Observer trapping for possums surprised he caught a kiwi in
2013
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Trap
the pine forest, says he raises his traps in the native.
Wild bird. 2nd road kill at site this year and 3rd in recent
years. Will put up a "kiwi crossing" sign and another article in
2013
Whangarei
Vehicle
local newsletter.
2013
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
DEAD. r/62 ck. Killed by stoat. Chick approx. 11 days old
2013 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Dog (pet)
Killed by very old terrier dog. Dog escaped from car.
2013
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Disease
Report of private land owner's dog killed a kiwi. Body not
2013 Bay of Islands
Dog (pet)
recovered.
2013
Bay of Islands
Chick
Vehicle
Outside Pye's property on road
Landowner was gardening, dog killed bird in rank grass 10
2013 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog (pet)
metres away
Found dead in old open water tank. Live wild male "Lucky"
2013
Whangarei
Adult
Drowned
found with her! Charlottes tx put on Lucky.
Chick found dead by volunteers. No obvious trauma, may
have been an act of misadventure as there are many
holes/burrows under the banks by the shore and the tides
2014
Whangarei
Chick
Misadventure
were unusually high at the time the chick was found
2014 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Dog (pet)
Dogs heard on property and injury consistemnt with dog bite
DEAD. Dround in trough before New Year (has been in freezer
while landowner on holiday), trough now has rocks in it. Bird
2014
Whangarei
Sub-adult
Drowned
is Darwin's chick from Feb 2013.
Observer found skeletal remains below his house on beach 2 -
2014
Bay of Islands
chick
Unknown
3 month old chick?
2014
Bay of Islands
Unknown
Decomposed
Picked up on private property near a fence, neighbour has
2014 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Suspected dog
dogs.
2014 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog (pet)
Found on back lawn- dog heard at 5am along with screeching.
2014
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Found on driveway by the road, probably hi tby car
Found by landowners on 13/4/14 blood from mouth and
2014
Whangarei
Sub-adult
Suspected dog
bruised chest, landowners have 2 dogs
DOG KILL. Known bird. Found by landowner 13/14/14, put in
freezer the next day. Blood from mouth, brurised chest, going
rotten. Landowners have two dogs. This is Dallas' chick from
2014
Whangarei
Sub-adult
Dog (pet)
Oct 2012.
2014
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Hit by car
Bird found in paddock 100m from house, wound/trauma to
2014
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Predation
the neck, look like small puncture marks.
DEAD. Unknown bird. Drowned in swimming pool with cover
2014
Whangarei
Drowned
on - walked on cover. Landowners are removing cover
2014
Whangarei
Adult
Vehicle
Staights before Ngunguru
2014
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Found on SH1 outside driveway. Head trauma.
DEAD. Unknown bird. Road death at some spot as road kills
on 22/1/13 and 4/5/13, we have already put in "kiwi
2014
Whangarei
Adult
Vehicle
crossing" sign here!
2014
Whangarei
Adult
Misadventure
Unknown, wild bird. Hit by car on Whangarei Heads Road by
2014
Whangarei
Vehicle
Kiwi Crossing sign - just N of Mcleod Bay
2014
Whangarei
Adult
Mustelid
Ferret
2014
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Found on road car kill
DEAD. Leg bones with metal band and tx found in burrow
with The Acrobat and Alva who is Gavins old mate. Dead tx
2014
Whangarei
Adult
Unknown
still attached to leg
2014
Whangarei
Records incomplete
2014
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Road kill
2014
Bay of Islands
Adult
Trap
Caught in gin trap
2014 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
2014 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Dog
Dog kill, poss neighbours dogs
2015
Bay of Islands
Chick
Mustelid
Stoat
2015
Bay of Islands
Unknown
2015
Whangarei
Dog (pet)
Caught by dog in the backyard.
DEAD. Stoated. Freshly killed and found stuffed in a hollow
2015
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
ponga. Chick 12 days old and close to 1080 line.
Found at bollard in parking area could have been placed
there, run over there or killed by dog there. Feathers missing
from both flanks no obvious puncture wounds, could be
vehicle kill could be dog - inderterminate
2015
Bay of Islands
Adult
Unknown
2015
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Vehicle
Decomposing badly so buried
2015
Bay of Islands
chick
Drowned
Swimming pool
No obvious trauma, streached out body, very fresh, minmal
2015
Whangarei
Chick
Natural
fly strke.
Dog kill. Owner found the bird freshly dead in the creek after
hearing her dogs barking. Both dogs thought to have been
involved in killing the kiwi and both have been through kiwi
aversion training. The fox terrier wiil be moved from the
2015 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog (pet)
property.
Handed in by public 30m up Kaiatea Rd from ngunguru Rd
2015
Whangarei
Vehicle
intersection. Hit by car - flat chest no sign of dog marks
2015
Whangarei
Adult
Vehicle
Run over at 6am and reported. No tp. Wild bred bird.
2015 Bay of Islands
Adult
Suspected dog
Found on driveway, two kiwi together.
2015 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Suspected dog
Found on driveway, two kiwi together
Dog kill. Feathers missing from its back like it had been
2015 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
worried and puncture marks evident.
DEAD. No sign of death. Tx band ok - was handled 17 days ago
2015
Whangarei
Adult
Unknown
in PM condition then
2015
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Found on Road
2015
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Found on road near 35kph sign opposite Stirlings pine block
2015
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Found on Rangitane Road alive near Aroha Is driveway
Found on access road to private property on Wharau Road.
Three dogs euthanased after investigation, two owners fined
2015 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
for not ensuring dogs were kept within property at night.
Found on side of road. Three dogs euthanased after
investigation, two owners fined for not ensuring dogs were
2015 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
kept within property at night.
Found on access road to private property, not far from
2015 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
Wharau Road
Found on private property not far from Wharau Road.
Decomposed. Has been dead for 2 weeks. Appeared to have
been worried by a dog. Three dogs euthanased after
investigation, two owners fined for not ensuring dogs were
2015 Bay of Islands
Dog
kept within property at night.
Found by Lynsay outside the Russell Cemetry, feathers
2015 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Dog
around the bird cosistant with being worried
One of seven birds recently killed by a dog along this road.
Three dogs euthanased after investigation, two owners fined
2015 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
for not ensuring dogs were kept within property at night.
Found dead Opito Bay Road on the roadside on the
2015
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
11/07/2015
Wild bird. Handed in by "Shorty". Freshly dead. Bald patches
on both legs, possibly bruising. No other cuts or marks.
2015
Whangarei
unknown
120mm of intestine hanging out of anus
Feathers missing near wing and bruising consistant with dog
2015 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
attack.
Ran over this bird on Ragitane loop Road and had it in his
2015
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
freezer for 5 weeks. Bird in good condition
2015 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog (pet)
Found in back yard
2015 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Dog
Found on farm track out in the open by pighunter
2015
Whangarei
Unknown
DEAD. Skeleton found spread over one square metre.
Observer didn't think to report this bird which was severely
2015
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
damaged by a vehcile - buried it.
2015 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dogs
Pack of kiwi aversion trained dogs
2015 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
Dog may have been tied up, needs confirmation.
Observer saw the bird dead with puncture wounds approx 3
weeks before he rang in on 3/08. Didn't think to call DOC
until he heard of other deaths. Three dogs euthanased after
investigation, two owners fined for not ensuring dogs were
2015 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog
kept within property at night.
Children playing with dog on drive, and dog killed kiwi in
2015 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog (pet)
pampas. Egg recovered.
Observer driving home 2230 hrs apprx, saw dog with kiwi in
mouth followed it for 800 m approx - no doubt was a kiwi.
2015 Bay of Islands
Dog (wandering)
Dog disapperared down a driveway.
2015
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Unknown
2015 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Suspected dog
Considering recent kiwi deaths in area, probable dog kill
Found in paddock next to fence decomposing, some trauma
2015 Bay of Islands
Adult
Suspected dog
on right thigh
DEAD. Wild bird - no ID. Very rotten. Drowned in water
supply sump - a 2nd drowned adult was also in sump. Water
2015
Whangarei
Adult
Drowned
supply now covered! Reported by locals, pictures taken
2015
Whangarei
Trap
From Going Rd
2015
Whangarei
Unknown
Dog or roadkill
Initially buried for a week before submitted. Found in
driveway. Broken bill. Dog or road kill. Will follow up with
2015
Whangarei
Suspected dog
landowner
2015
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Found fresly run over
2015
Bay of Islands
Adult
Vehicle
Found on road
2016 Bay of Islands
Adult
Suspected dog
Found in a paddock on the farm
Found dead on track, wounds to left side of back. Autopsy
2016
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
confirmed
Reported to Puketotara LC, DOC exhumed bird and bought it
2016
Bay of Islands
Chick
Predation
in. Suspected cat kill
Had been in the sea for a time. Trauma around front chest
2016
Bay of Islands
Adult
unknown
area and stomach
2016
Bay of Islands
Chick
Unknown
Found at beginning of driveway
Dog killed bird while being walked off lead in the bush on the
owners property. The dog had been through avoidance
2016 Bay of Islands
Adult
Dog (pet)
training in Oct 2015.
2016
Bay of Islands
Vehicle
2016
Bay of Islands
Trap
Found in leg=hold trap.
2016
Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Drowned
Found drowned in pool
2016
Bay of Islands
Adult
vehicle
Tim found the bird dead on the side of the road
2016
Whangarei
Adult
Vehicle
Found on road 100m past Nook Rd. No tp found
2016
Bay of Islands
vehicle
Found long dead in entrance to burrow. Band removed but
body left in situ. Alva had been first found in 1996. She had
2016
Whangarei
Adult
Unknown
been Gavins mate (he died) then The Acrobats)
2016
Whangarei
Adult
Vehicle
Sent to Massey, confirmed hit by car
2016
Whangarei
Adult
Vehicle
Whangarei Heads Rd north of Craig Rd
2016
Whangarei
Adult
Vehicle
Sent to Massey, confirmed hit by car
Killed by worker's dog. Dog removed from property. RIP
2016
Whangarei
Adult
Dog
Taonga
FIRST RECORD. In nest with Dad (Whitu) and sibling
(7688FOC). Chick timer data shows 16 days old. No injuries
but has been dead about 2 days (maggots). Worst area is
2016
Whangarei
Chick
Unknown
belly - umbilicus.
Found by public at start of MM walking track and handed into
2016
Whangarei
Unknown
WNBRC. Broken leg, unknown cause of death.
Stoat. Only leg left, fresh (1-2 days dead). Similar spot to
2017
Whangarei
Chick
Mustelid
where LC136 stoated.
Dead wild kiwi, female. Had been dead for many weeks, just
bones and feathers left. No tp. On track. Couldn’t see any
2017
Whangarei
Adult
Unknown
broken bones, will get someone to have a closer look.
DEAD, found drowned in irrigation pond. Has moved approx.
2017
Whangarei
Drowned
600m in a month
Found by landowner. Drowned in pool. 350m from nest
2017
Whangarei
Chick
Drowned
where it hatched in Feb. Grown 630g in less than 4 months
Under flax with signs of recent flooding. No sign of external
injury or trauma. No wounds or bite marks. Likely natural
causes - misadventure? Body cavity filled with maggots >1
2017
Whangarei
Chick
Misadventure
week old.
2017
Whangarei
Adult
Suspected dog
Looks like a dog kill - really decomposed
2017
Whangarei
Sub-adult
Vehicle
Road kill in evening about 8pm. Body to DOC
2017
Whangarei
Vehicle
Road kill in morning about 6am. Body to DOC
2017
Whangarei
Dog
No microchip found, dog kill
2017
Whangarei
Drowned
2014
Whangarei
Records incomplete
2017
Whangarei
Trap
Found injured on track, taken to vets and euthanised
2017
Whangarei
Trap
Treatment attempted
2017
Whangarei
Drowned
Found in drum - presumed drowned
2018
Whangarei
Vehicle
Picked up next to road
2018
Whangarei
Adult
Drowned
Drowned in goldfish pond, couldn't get out of slippery side
2018 Bay of Islands
Dog
Found dead kiwi on road side by a private driveway.
Found dead kiwi on the same morning as above but on a
2018 Bay of Islands
Dog
different driveway.
Found dead kiwi on the same morning as above but at a
2018 Bay of Islands
Dog
different property
2018 Bay of Islands
Dog
Found kiwi in the evening of the 22nd on their lawn
2018
Bay of Islands
Dog
Found kiwi in evening on driveway
One further kiwi handed in found in the same area as the
2018
Bay of Islands
Dog
above four kiwi
2018 Bay of Islands
Sub-adult
Dog
Found in well-known area for dog-walkers
2018
Whangarei
Dog
Found by observer walking his dogs. Autopsy confirmed dog
Kiwi found in same area as another kiwi found one week
2018
Whangarei
Dog
prior. Autopsy confirmed dog
Three additional bird found confirmed dog kill this year, but
2018
Whangarei
Dog
no records in database
Appendix 2
Deaths of radio tracked kiwi on DOC-managed projects (2016-2018)
Number of known kiwi deaths per annum
Causes of known kiwi deaths
Population
Project
Comments
2016
2017
2018
TOTAL
Predation
Human
Disease
Natural
Unknown
Tokoeka
2016/17 was an
in-situ survival study. Most deaths were
chicks. 2017/18 was also meant to be an
in-situ study,
but due to the drought (and the closure of traps) all
9 (7x
12 (10x
3 (3x
8 (6x starvation,
Haast
Haast tokoeka
24
6 (5x stoat, 1x cat)
1
9
chicks were removed from the sanctuary and moved to
chicks)
chicks)
chicks)
2x misadventure)
creche sites. It is highly likely that if they had remained
in the sanctuary most would have died either of
starvation or predation.
North
0
0
0
0
No monitoring during this time
Fiordland
Shy lake
Year 1 of chick recruitment study, all deaths were chicks
Southern
less than 3 weeks old. 6/10 were known stoat; 4/10 have
South
Fiordland
0
8
2
10
10 (stoat)
supporting evidence but carcass not recovered and so not
Fiordland
Tokoeka
sure. No pest control of any sort has ever yet been
Recruitment
undertaken in the area.
study
Mason Bay: 25 birds radio tracked for 2 weeks then
transmitters removed - all birds fine
Rakiura
0
0
0
0
Port Adventure: 25 birds radio tracked for 2 weeks then
transmitters removed - all birds fine
Rowi
6 (1x leg trauma
11 (10x
4 (2x
5 (5x
4 (2x disease
1x drowning, 4x
Some deaths were unknown as kiwi were too
Okarito
chicks/
chicks/
chicks/
20
4 (falcon)
1 (car impact)
related 2x health
5
drownings/
decomposed when found.
juveniles)
juveniles)
juveniles)
related)
misadventure)
Great spotted kiwi
The 2016 death was an adult death of apparently natural
causes. 2017 deaths were chicks <4 weeks old, carcasses
Northwest
Roaring Lion
1
2
3
6
4
2
not found. 2018 deaths were chicks <4 weeks old - one
Nelson
BFOB study
died naturally at hatch, 2 were apparently natural (not
predated) but cause unknown.
Rotoiti Nature
2
1 (fell down a
Nelson Lakes
0
0
2
1 (cat)
Recovery Project
(juveniles)
hole)
Westport
0
0
0
0
No monitoring studies during this time
No Pest control undertaken. All deaths were chicks <1-
Paparoa
Te Wharau SOIK
0
0
4
4
4 (stoat)
week-old. One carcass retrieved, all others had stoats
Range
study
visiting on camera before disappearance
Arthur's Pass
0
0
0
0
No monitoring during this time
Little spotted kiwi
Shakespear
No individuals died during the DOC managed
Regional Park
0
0
0
0
translocation project, 20 transmitters on prior to
kiwi translocation
translocation - no deaths
Brown kiwi
In 2015/16 a trial of A24 self-resetting traps was
conducted in Trounson Kauri Park. Kiwi chick survival
1 (unknown - too
was the outcome monitoring conducted to determine
1 (unknown adult
12 chicks (1 ferret
decomposed to
their effectiveness for stoat control. This was a one-year
male, found dead
Kauri Coast -
14
kill confirmed the
determine - at
trial. No further chick monitoring was done after 2016.
Northland
2
1
17
on road next to
2 chicks
Trounson Park
(chicks)
rest likely stoat)
1
Dargaville
Adult deaths in 2017 & 2018 were random finds,
Trounson, -
adult (dog kill)
township not
particularly the one at Dargaville as kiwi have not been
vehicle impact)
Trounson)
reported present here for decades and unsure how it
would have made its way to the location it was found just
on the edge of town.
Northland
Whangarei
0
1
0
1
1
Radio-tracked birds
Coromandel
Moehau
0
0
0
0
No monitoring during this time
7 (too
decomposed to
Of the 7 deaths recorded as unknown causes, 4 were
15 (14 ferret
Western
Tongariro Forest
5
7
11
23
1 (translocation)
tell- but 4
suspected ferret predations due to location and timing of
predation, 1 stoat)
suspected ferret
other ferret-kiwi kills
predations)
Kiwi monitored by ECOED (community group) in 2017,
1 (adult, too
1 (adult, found in
Kiwi managed by K4K in 2018. Management only to
Boundary Stream
decomposed to be
Eastern
0
1
1
2
a hole therefore
locate birds when breeding so ONE/ONC can occur.
Mainland Island
sure, likely a cat
likely trapped)
Therefore, checks not regular and bodies not found in a
or ferret)
timely fashion to accurately determine cause of death
6 adults (1x ferret,
Kiwi managed and monitored by ECOED (community
1x suspected
group). Likely cause of death determined by how and
Kaweka Forest
Eastern
0
3
3
6
ferret, 1x
where body was found. Terrain and accessibility of
Park
suspected cat, 3
Kawekas, and volunteer capacity determines how quickly
unknown)
bodies are located.
Document Outline
