OIA -18-E-0063
5 March 2018
Chris Hicks
[FYI request #7240 email]
Dear Chris
Thank you for your Official Information Act request to the Department of
Conservation, dated 9 February 2018. You requested information about the kiwi
project at Pukaha Forest.
Below is the information you requested:
Please confirm how many Kiwi have been bought in or bred at Pukaha and released
into the Pukaha Forest or held in captivity since 2003.
Kiwi bred at Pukaha
YEAR
KIWI
YEAR
KIWI
RELEASED
RELEASED
2017
7
2009
3
2016
3
2008
3
2015
7
2007
1
2014
9
2006
0
2013
19
2005
2
2012
11
2004
0
2011
15
2003
0
2010
0
Kiwi translocated from other sites and released at Pukaha
YEAR
KIWI
INTRODUCED
2010
30
2009
3
2007
1
2006
2
2004
1
2003
3
Please confirm the current Kiwi numbers at Pukaha inside the Kiwi House, in fenced
enclosures and in the Pukaha Forest.
• There are two kiwi housed in the kiwi house, six kiwi in fenced enclosures and
12 radio-tagged kiwi in Pukaha Forest. This is not the total amount of kiwi in
the forest, as not all kiwi are radio-tagged. A selection of kiwi are radio-tagged
to monitor trends in success of the wider population at Pukaha Forest.
Please explain why juvenile Kiwi are still released into Pukaha Forest when so
many Kiwi have died!
• There have been successes and set-backs with kiwi in Pukaha Forest. It is
important to note there were no kiwi deaths in Pukaha Forest in 2017.
Predator control methods have been constantly reviewed and refined during
the project and new trapping technologies have been introduced to control the
predators that threaten kiwi. There is strong support from the community and
neighbours to have kiwi in Pukaha Forest and adjoining properties. The
community donate their money and time to support this project. It is the
combination of strong community support and improving control methods
that sees this project continuing.
How much money has been spent on the restoration project by Department of
Conservation, the Pukaha Board, Wellington Regional Council & Horizons Regional
Council since 2001?
• We can only provide figures for the Department of Conservation and the
Pukaha Board back to 2011. Regional councils do predator control on private
land surrounding Pukaha Forest. The department does not hold information
on money spent by regional councils on private land.
1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 Pukaha Board $232,874 DOC $26,650
1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 Pukaha Board $140,000 DOC $26,650
1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014 Pukaha Board $140,000 DOC $26,650
1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013 Pukaha Board $140,000 DOC $26,650
1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012 Pukaha Board $140,000 DOC $26,650
Please let me know who I should request an official investigation into the Kiwi deaths
at Pukaha.
• You could request an official investigation into kiwi deaths at Pukaha Forest
from the Director Operations Lower North Island, Reg Kemper.
If you wish to discuss this with the Department, please contact Jim Flack
on 027 568
9246 or by ema
il [email address].
Yours sincerely,
Jay Eden
Acting Director Operations Lower North Island
Department of Conservation