This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Official Information request 'Kiwi at Mt Bruce'.


 
 
 
 
File Ref:  17-E-452 
 
 
20 October 2017 
 
 
Clyde Graf 
mailto:[FYI request #6647 email] 
 
 
 
 
Dear Mr Graf 
 
OFFICIAL INFORMATION REQUEST 
 
Thank you for your Official Information request to the Department of Conservation dated 6 
October 2017. You requested the following:  
 
Can you please provide answers to the following questions - 
  
1/ How many kiwi chicks, juvenile, and adults have been released into Mt Bruce (please 
identify any from ONE) in each of the last three years? 
 
2017  7 Operation Nest Egg juveniles released (to date) this year. 
2016  3 Operation Nest Egg juveniles released. 
2015  4 Operation Nest Egg chicks and 3 Operation Nest Egg juveniles released. 
 
 
2/ How many kiwi eggs have been lifted from Mt Bruce Sanctuary in each of the last 3 years, 
and how many successfully hatched? 
 
YEAR 
# EGGS 
# EGGS 
# EGGS 
LIFTED 
FERTILE  HATCHED 
2017 7 
6 6 
2016 4 
2 2 
2015 6 
6 4 
 
3/ How many kiwi of all ages have been removed from Mt Bruce for translocation to other 
forests? 
 
 
Nil 
 
4/ In what years have there been aerial 1080 poison operations across the Mt Bruce 
Sanctuary, since its inception? 
 
 
1080 was applied aerially in 2014, 2015 and 2016. 
 
 
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 
Palmerston North Regional Office 
Private Bag 11010, Palmerston North 4442   
www.doc.govt.nz 
 
DOCCM – 3007132 OIA 17-E-452 


- 2 - 
 
5/ Are any 1080 poison drops planned for Mt Bruce in 2017 or 2018? 
 
 
There is currently no plan to apply 1080 at Pukaha in 2017. No decision has been made for 
2018. 
 
 
6/ How many kiwi are known to be alive in the free-range part of the sanctuary as of October 
2017? 
 
16 
 
7/ How many radio tagged kiwi are known to be alive in the free-range part of the sanctuary 
as of October 2017? 
 
 
13 
 
8/ How many kiwi are known to have died in each year, from January 2013 - October 2017? 
 
The following table details the number of kiwi deaths recorded each year since 2013. 
 
YEAR 
Kiwi 
CAUSE OF DEATH 
2017 to date 

 
2016 

Predation – all injuries consistent with ferret attack ie. 
injuries around neck, skull damaged or bird decapitated, 
stashed in burrows. 
2015 

Predation – necropsy performed on several birds for the 
purpose of identifying the animal responsible for the attacks 
(when captured). Injuries to all birds consistent with ferret 
attack ie. injuries around neck, skull damaged or bird 
decapitated, stashed in burrows. 
2014 1 
Predation - injuries consistent with ferret attack.  
 
 

Blunt trauma –Necropsy confirmed cause of death. 
2013 1 
Coccidia – Massey necropsy confirmed the bird had a high 
 
coccidia loading, causing death. 
 
 

Blunt trauma – Massey necropsy confirmed cause of death. 
 
Only one of the deaths recorded above occurred after the application of 1080 in the reserve.  
 
In 2014, a dead juvenile with no obvious injuries was found within a week of 1080 being applied 
aerially. The bird was tested for toxins. No toxins were present. 
 
All of the other deaths recorded occurred prior to the application of 1080 in the reserve. 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
 
Jay Eden 
Acting Director Operations 
Lower North Island 
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 
Palmerston North Regional Office 
Private Bag 11010, Palmerston North 4442   
www.doc.govt.nz 
 
DOCCM – 3007132 OIA 17-E-452