Kiwi- A National Treasure

Kiwis are iconic in New Zealand, an integral part of the culture, appearing on merchandise everywhere, but in reality they have been disappearing in the wild. Now, the rarest of their kind, the rowi, is part of a long-running protection programme.

- Jo Price

While he was growing up, Iain Graham’s family looked after a small cottage surrounded by native bush at the top of the Coromandel Peninsula on New Zealand’s North Island, which they would visit during the holidays. One evening as they sat around cooking on an open fire, Iain heard something snuffling through the undergrowth. He waited in silence for what he thought was a hedgehog – an introduced species – to appear from the lush ferns.

But when the source of the noise became visible it wasn’t a mammal at all: “A kiwi proceeded to feed around the fire at our feet,” says Iain. “I was fascinated by the way it slowly moved about, probing the ground seemingly unaware of our presence.” This unforgettable early experience shaped Iain’s passion for New Zealand’s endemic flora and fauna – today, he works as an officer for the Department of Conservation (DOC).

“Kiwis are a significant taonga (treasure) for New Zealanders, and are one of the most iconic creatures in the country,” says Iain. “If kiwis became extinct, we may have to change our national identity.” Not only have the birds become an affectionate nickname for New Zealanders, but they also feature widely across the media, advertising and in children’s literature, despite rarely being seen.

DRAMATIC DECLINE

New Zealand has lost 90 per cent of its kiwi population in just 80 years: only 50,000 birds remain. This nocturnal animal soon got into trouble after the arrival of Maori more than 700 years ago. Habitat loss as a result of extensive burning and clearing of the forest, predation by domestic dogs, harvesting for food, and possible competition with introduced Polynesian rats led to extensive range reductions.