Taranaki Kiwi Trust

22/06/2026

We would like to give a huge shoutout to Grounded Kiwi, who have been ongoing supporters of TKT. Blake and his family are committed to giving back, and have donated more than $25,000 to charities across Aotearoa!

They have recently moved into a larger premises in New Plymouth, so make sure you head on in and check out their grounding products in their new showroom.

Last year Jess took Blake out to catch Stella the kiwi at Omoana, a beautiful big female who the family named back when she was released in 2023.

12/06/2026

As you may have seen through our recent Facebook posts, TKT have had a very busy and successful kiwi season!

With so much to celebrate this year, it's important to note that none of it would be possible without the amazing support of our Taranaki community.

As we celebrate this season's achievements, we're already looking ahead to next kiwi season. If you'd like support us in our ongoing mission to protect kiwi in Taranaki, there are a few ways you can help:

🪶 Making a one-off or regular donation
🪶 Gifting an e-message donation to someone special
🪶 Leaving a bequest in your will to create a lasting legacy for kiwi conservation

You can find out more on our website https://www.taranakikiwi.org.nz/

📸: Jenny Oakley

08/06/2026

After a very hectic few months, we have completed our final kiwi translocation for 2026!

For the Taranaki Kōhanga Kiwi at Rotokare project (our partnership with Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust), this was our biggest translocation year yet, with 56 kiwi being rehomed across the Western Brown Kiwi Region.

Additionally, 61 birds were brought to Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki from Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari (something that was made all the more difficult with bad weather and road closures).

We would like to give a huge thank you to all the volunteers who assisted with this work - it would simply not be possible to achieve such amazing outcomes without your mahi!

A special thank you to Jenny Oakley who, alongside catching kiwi, attended just about every release across the region to capture the most beautiful photos.

Taranaki Mounga 800 Trust The Capital Kiwi Project

05/06/2026

The awesome team over at Primo support TKT and over 100 other organisations around Taranaki with free internet, and have been doing so for years!

We are so grateful for their support, and having free wifi at our office makes those admin jobs that much easier.

Another cool thing about Primo is that they have multiple webcams placed around Taranaki, which is a great way to check out the local weather before we head out into the field.

You can check out Primo and sign up for their mobile and internet plans at https://www.primo.nz/nz.

Pictured is Rewi the kiwi, who was released at Omoana in 2023 and named by the Primo crew
📸: Jenny Feaver Photography

01/06/2026

KAIHĀPAI KIWI - VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH
Supported by WWF/Tindall Foundation
Sam Hopkirk

Sam started volunteering for TKT about 10 years ago, and shortly afterwards she joined the board of trustees. At the last AGM, she was elected as the Chair for TKT.

Sam is always keen for a day off the farm to assist with kiwi work, and is a key volunteer when it comes to translocation season, as well as beeping kiwi throughout the year for some of our other projects. The team absolutely loves seeing her friendly face out for a day of kiwi catching. Sam is constantly looking to learn new skills, and is always willing to share new ideas and knowledge with the rest of the us.

When asked about what she likes the most about being part of TKT, Sam said: 'I love the joy of being in the bush with birds. It brings a deep sense of peace and satisfaction. It makes the world feel right, and is my happy place. I love seeing the joy that it inspires in others. I feel very privileged to be involved.'

Thanks for everything you do Sam!

29/05/2026

Recently, Green School New Zealand had a special visit from the aptly named 'Kākariki' the kiwi!

This was one of TKKR's (our partnership with Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust) last kiwi translocations of the year, with Kākariki making a special detour to visit the students before being released on Taranaki Maunga.

A huge thank you to Taranaki Mounga for their tireless efforts protecting and restoring the maunga, helping create a safe new home for our kiwi.

📸: Jenny Oakley

26/05/2026

Taranaki Kōhanga Kiwi at Rotokare (our partnership with Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust) are very thankful for the ongoing support and sponsorship we receive from VetPath NZ.

Each year we take samples from our translocatable kiwi, and the Waikato based business processes these in their lab to check for internal parasites. This ensures our kiwi are fit and healthy prior to being released in their new homes.

A couple of weeks ago Rochelle Keatinge, one of their staff members, visited the kōhanga the morning before kiwi were transferred to Taranaki Maunga. I think you will agree the look on her face says it all! She went home to the Waikato and told her colleagues it was the best day of her life.

You can check out VetPath's services here https://www.vetpath.co.nz/

13/05/2026

We’re excited to share some great news for kiwi in Taranaki. We’re grateful to have received community funding from Wild for Taranaki to support Taranaki Kōhanga Kiwi at Rotokare

This funding supports the partnership between Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust and Taranaki Kiwi Trust, helping us continue kiwi conservation work at Rotokare and keep the mahi moving.

The funding will go towards new transmitters, microchips, and scales. All vital tools for our kiwi monitoring and seasonal translocations. It’s been a massive translocation season for the partnership, and every dollar helps us get more kiwi safely established in other predator-free spaces

05/05/2026

Feral cats are a significant threat to kiwi in the wild, but domestic cats also predate on smaller native species. An interesting article here on them from RNZ

We’re a nation of cat lovers, with one of the highest rates of cat ownership in the world – and yet we’re also exceptionally proud of our native birds, a contradiction that is becoming harder to ignore.