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Photography Grabb
A new fund launched by the conservation group Kiwis for kiwi brought together former opposition political leaders Helen Clark and John Key to release a kiwi named Ardern into the wild.
The national charity Kiwis for kiwi has launched a new fund with the goal of raising $ 20 million for kiwi conservation over the next five years.
Its launch brought together two former leaders, political differences aside, to work together as sponsors and release a kiwi named Ardern into the wild.
Former Prime Ministers Sir John Key and Helen Clark are joint sponsors of the fund, and their first hands-on experience with kiwi was freeing Ardern and six other juvenile kiwis in a predator-controlled forest in Hawke’s Bay.
Clark said the kiwi was born on Election Day, October 17 of last year, and the National Kiwi Hatchery team named it after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. “So, for me, it is special to bring this bird back to the forest where it belongs.”
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Political persuasions did not come into play, Clark said. “Kiwi unites kiwis, literally, it’s kiwis for kiwi. There are many things that we can all agree on, regardless of our political views. “
Photography Grabb
Although political persuasions are put aside, Clark is proud to release a kiwi named after Jacinda Ardern, a fellow Labor leader, in the wild.
Key said that a New Zealand without kiwi was unthinkable. “We looked at each other and wondered how we let that happen.
“We represent the country and the kiwi represents us.”
Conservation Minister Kiri Allan welcomed the new initiative. The taonga species faced multiple pressures. “Kiwi populations are declining at a steady rate of two percent per year and cover only a fraction of their former range; we want to turn around a two percent increase, ”he said.
Photography Grabb
John Key says a New Zealand without kiwis is unthinkable and he is happy to support the project.
Their main threats were habitat, introduced predators and, increasingly, the impacts of climate change. “Right now, only 6 percent of chicks in the wild survive to adulthood.”
Kiwis for kiwi worked closely with iwi and hāpu, community groups, private owners, and businesses.
“The endowment fund will help develop important kiwi restoration programs as we all continue to work to secure the future of our national icon,” said Allan.
The goal was to raise a base fund of $ 20 million over the next five years to allow them to maintain their support for kiwi conservation efforts and create momentum for future growth.
Kelley Tantau / Stuff
There are only 65,000 kiwis left in New Zealand. (File photo)
Kiwi facts
- There are just under 65,000 kiwis in New Zealand
- Only a quarter of wild kiwis live in a safe habitat protected by predator control. The kiwi is still declining nationally, as most populations are unprotected from predators.
- Only 6 percent of the chicks survive to adulthood, mainly due to predation by the ermine
- They can live up to 40 years, but dogs and ferrets cut it down to 13 years on average.
- There are more than 100 iwi-led kiwi conservation and community projects that protect more than 200,000ha of kiwi habitat.
- $ 19.7 million of Jobs for Nature funds are being invested in kiwi conservation activities
