Pest Free Purerua-Mataroa

14/09/2026

We're lucky enough to have dotterel on the Purerua peninsula and they are nesting on the beaches now - please keep your dogs on a leash when walking on the beaches.

The pohowera (banded dotterel) is tiny but tough 💪

Every year, these little shorebirds return to our coastlines in July, ready to take on nesting season from August onwards. While other birds build obvious nests in trees, pohowera boldly nest right on beaches and riverbeds, relying on their next-level camouflage skills to blend perfectly into the stones and driftwood around them.

But their greatest talent? Award-winning acting 😏

When a predator, dog, or curious human gets too close to their nest, the pohowera launches into a "broken wing" performance. The bird dramatically flops onto the ground, drags a wing behind it, and acts as though it has suffered a terrible injury. The unsuspecting threat follows the apparently helpless bird away from the nest, only for the pohowera to reveal the ultimate plot twist: it suddenly makes a full recovery and flies off completely unharmed.

Any bird that can outsmart predators with a convincing bit of theatre has to be a contender for NZ's Bird of the Year.

They're resourceful and fiercely protective parents, all while looking small enough to fit in your hand. Their chicks hatch from mid-September and are just as well camouflaged as their parents.

So next time you're at the beach, keep an eye out for these feathered masterminds. We're teaming up with Save the Pohowera (Banded Dotterels) Hawke's Bay to raise awareness of our local feathered friends. While their camouflage is an incredible survival skill, it can also make them vulnerable to accidental disturbance and damage to their nests.

🐦 Vote Pohowera (Banded Dotterel)
🐦 Party Vote: Shorebirds including Hawke's Bay Museum's favourite, the Kōtare
Vote 🗳 www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/
📸 Thanks Lynne Roberts for the cute chick pic!

09/09/2026

Great turnout at The Landing this week for our matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern) planning hui. Purerua-Mataroa is taking part in a study to find out what level of pest control these nationally critical birds need to breed successfully. We are also taking part in the Great Bittern Muster which involves listening out for bitterns over set dates similar to the kiwi listening.

There are only about 800 or so of these critically endangered birds left and we know we have a number of them on the peninsula - it's our chance to help them.

Heard a bittern booming? Let us know location and details, email Kiwi Coast ([email protected]) Want to take part in the listening? email Andy Mentor ([email protected]).

Kiwi Coast

26/08/2026

Thank you Kiwi Coast for everything you do. You’ve created communities that have achieved amazing milestones and brought us together to believe in ourselves and our ability to create change. That’s a massive achievement.

Our 2026 Annual Report is now out - celebrating another huge year of impact!
Kiwi Coast CEO, Ngaire Sullivan reports:
“It’s been another phenomenal year for the Kiwi Coast network.
The achievements highlighted throughout our the 2026 Annual Report demonstrate what is possible when local knowledge, long-term commitment and science-based conservation come together.

Every trap serviced, every kiwi monitored, every workshop delivered and every partnership formed contributes to something much larger than any individual project could achieve alone.

Long-term monitoring shows that where integrated predator control and responsible dog management are in place, kiwi populations are stable or increasing across almost all monitored
sites.

The task ahead is to expand and strengthen the fledgling kiwi corridors, build ecosystem resilience, and ensure the next generation inherits a Northland where taonga species such as kiwi, pāteke, matuku hūrepo are once again a common and thriving part of the landscape.

Kiwi Coast Trust gratefully acknowledges the support of our partners, Northland Regional Council, funders Foundation North, and sponsors including Airzone and EUGY by dodoland. Your investment and belief in this shared vision make this work possible.

Together, we are a stronger network delivering a phenomenal impact.”

Find out about all the latest stats, results, maps, projects, plans, stories and the next steps going forward, and download your own copy here: https://kiwicoast.org.nz/kiwi-coast-news/celebrating-another-year-of-impact/

Huge shout out to the amazing Ashlee at JOP Design & Print whose creativity really helped us shape a brand new look for the report and keep us focused on strategic impact!

22/08/2026

Northland has some of the most precious native bush, coastlines, and wildlife in the country, and now there's a simple new way for all of us to help protect it.

Meet the Northland Environment Fund, set up by the Northland Community Foundation. Here's how it works: you make a donation of any size and your donation gets invested, the interest it earns is given out every year as grants to local groups doing the mahi: restoring habitat, protecting native species, creating jobs in conservation, and growing environmental education across Te Tai Tokerau.

Come and celebrate the launch of the Northland Environment Fund with us:

Friday 4 September, 10am, Kingston House.

Everyone's welcome. Come and hear more about the fund and how you can be part of protecting Northland's environment for generations to come. You can donate at any time at https://www.northlandcommunityfoundation.org.nz/fund/northland-environment-fund

05/08/2026

If you're out in nature — this one's important. Please read and stay updated about Bird Flu in New Zealand.

Avian influenza has arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand. The risk to human health is low, but here’s what you can do on the trapline or in your backyard to minimise the risk of spreading the disease.

03/08/2026

He earned his name. But after three years, Nine Lives has run out.

A wildlife-devouring feral cat so elusive it was nicknamed 'Nine Lives' has been caught after a massive three-year effort.

28/07/2026

25% is such a great achievement. Well done and thank you Kiwi Coast for bringing us all together and supporting us so well in so many ways.

We've been crunching the numbers... and updating the big Kiwi Coast map! Can you believe the Kiwi Coast network now spans 25% of Northland?
Today, Kiwi Coast links 284 community groups, hapū, iwi, landowners, businesses, and agency partners working together across 318,717 hectares of Te Tai Tokerau.
Together, we're creating predator-controlled landscapes where kiwi, pāteke, and other taonga species are surviving, breeding, and gradually reclaiming parts of their former range.
Every trap checked, every hour of monitoring, every hectare revitalised, and every partnership built is helping shape a healthier future for Northland's native wildlife.
A huge thank you to everyone who makes this possible—including all the community groups, hapū, iwi, landowners, volunteers, businesses, and partners, including Northland Regional Council, Foundation North, EUGY by dodoland, Airzone, and our wonderful Follow a Kiwi sponsors. Together, we're making a real difference for Northland's native wildlife.

14/07/2026

We've lost one of nature's greatest champions. Sam Neill was a proud voice for New Zealand's wild places — he'll be deeply missed.

Sir Sam Neill was a legendary Kiwi. Known globally for his talent on the screen, back home, he was a fierce and passionate champion for our environment.

Whether it was advocating for our native species, supporting local conservation projects, or simply sharing his deep love for our unique landscapes, Sam walked the talk. He understood that our nature isn't just something to look at, it’s something we must cherish and protect.

His warmth, wit, and unwavering voice for the wild will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with his whānau, friends, and everyone who knew him.

Moe mai rā.

09/07/2026

Thank you Azalea Anota and for this contribution to conservation in New Zealand. This is so important to understand - Toxoplasmosis is carried by cats and can affect the health of many of our native bird species.

What does it take to keep kiwi healthy in the wild?

Go behind the scenes with the team on Purerua–Mataroa Peninsula who are researching toxoplasmosis - a parasite carried by cats that can affect kiwi health.

Read the full story here 👇
https://kiwicoast.org.nz/community/exploring-kiwi-health-on-purerua-mataroa-peninsula/

03/07/2026

Stoat sighting on Purerua Road

Our trapper Zane came across this stoat tucking into a rabbit carcass on Purerua Road, near Hewitt Road, last week.

Stoats are some of the hardest predators for us to trap as they're cautious, cover huge distances, and won't hang around long in one spot. That's why community sightings matter so much.

If you see a stoat on the Purerua Peninsula please send us a quick report with a location and date. This helps us know where to focus trap lines before a stoat reaches nesting kiwi, dotterel, or other vulnerable wildlife.

If you see a stoat (or signs of one) on the peninsula, email me at [email protected]

Every report brings us a step closer to a pest-free Purerua.