Save our Kaweka Kiwi

07/06/2026

Seeing the reactions of people meeting a kiwi for the first time has got to be one of the most heart-warming things about kiwi conservation 🤎
On 4 June, we had the pleasure of welcoming Alesha and Vanessa from Hawke's Bay Foundation on a kiwi release in the Kaweka Forest Park. Hawke's Bay Foundation provided funds to support Save Our Kaweka Kiwi's trapping programme in 2025.
The kiwi that was released, a young male, came to us from Cape Sanctuary as part of our kiwi swap programme with the cape. Alesha and Vanessa chose the name Kaha, meaning strong in te reo Māori. Kaha has been fitted with a transmitter, and we hope he will become one of our monitored breeding birds when he matures. Kaha has unique colouring, sporting some fabulous grey and white feathers on his head where we would usually expect to see a chocolate brown colour in the North Island Brown species!

12/05/2026

It’s a special thing when a kiwi kid gets to take part in a kiwi release, and this time it was one of our own. On 11 May, ECOED trustee Reece and his daughter Frankie joined Kiwi Manager Deb for the release of a 6-month-old kiwi in the Kaweka Forest Park.

Frankie was given the important job of naming the kiwi and looked no further than her own name – Frankie. And why not, it’s a great name!

Frankie (the human) did a great job helping Deb release Frankie (the kiwi) back into the wilds of the Kaweka Forest Park.

Other highlights of the trip included several dead possums courtesy of our AT220 Auto Traps, which are really pulling their weight out there and helping us keep a lid on the possum population.

Frankie shared her adventure with her school classmates during show and tell the next day. Ka Pai Frankie!

09/03/2026

On Sunday, staff and families from Pan Pac Forest Products, our long-time sponsor, joined us at our creche at Lake Opouahi Scenic Reserve to learn about kiwi conservation and the Save Our Kaweka Kiwi Project. 🥝🐣

It was a special day at the creche, with two kiwi ready to be released back into the Kaweka Forest Park. Before heading off to Kaweka, one of the kiwi still needed a name, and our visitors has great fun in helping us pick one. In keeping with the ‘Batman villains’ theme of the bloodline (dad’s name is Riddler), we had three options – Quinn, Penguin and Echo. It was a close vote, but Echo was the winner.

After the kiwi naming, a tracking activity gave the group first-hand experience in using an aerial and receiver to track a transmitter, which was attached to a toy kiwi hiding in the bush.

Special thanks to our amazing creche team and to Tamsin and conservation dog Spur, who we wouldn’t have been able to locate one of the birds without!

04/03/2026

A big thanks to author Alyse Boaz for dropping off a copy of her new book 'New Zealand’s Kiwi' while on her book tour across the motu. We've enjoyed playing a part and contributing to this wonderful educational children’s book! 📖🥝

11/01/2026

👉 Looking for part-time administration work in Napier/Hastings? This could be the job for you!

ECOED Trust is looking for an experienced part-time Project Administrator to join our team.

⏰8-10 hours/week, flexible hours
📃Contractor (self-employed)
💰Administration and accounts management (MYOB)

If you’re interested in learning more about the role, get in touch with Aimee van der Weyden, Chair – ECOED Trust at [email protected]

What is ECOED?
ECOED is a registered charity (CC27154). Our core project, Save Our Kaweka Kiwi, works to increase kiwi numbers in the Kaweka Forest Park and reduce the number of pests that threaten them and their environment. To learn more about us, visit our website

The North Island brown kiwi remains seriously endangered in the Kaweka Forest Park. A kiwi population estimated to be in the low hundreds faces literally tens of thousands of predators, ranging from possums and stoats to rats and cats.Without intervention, our local population of eastern taxon North...

02/01/2026

Recently, ECOED was approached by Peter from Tony's Tyre & Auto Care New Zealand, Napier, offering help for the Save Our Kaweka Kiwi project as part of his team’s annual community volunteering day. It just so happens that David, our Trapping Manager, had the ideal job – carrying traps!

Peter and Sabiha from Tony’s Tyres plus David and ECOED volunteers Mike and Ei set off to install the final nine replacement traps for the Te Puia trapline. It was a great day out with perfect weather and working as two teams the job was quickly completed.

Ka pai and big thanks to the team at Tony’s Tyres Napier, we hope to see you again next year!

13/11/2025

Great news everybody, our friends at the Department of Conservation have located another active kiwi burrow in the Kaweka Forest Park with the help of certified conservation dog Nagi – that’s two this year! 🐶👏

After noticing lots of kiwi sign in the area, the team decided to check the burrow for safety reasons, due to its proximity to the track and the Makahu Saddle carpark. Inside the burrow was the whole family – mum, dad and a feisty chick three-week-old chick. The chick has been moved to the safety of the creche until it’s old enough to return to the forest park – greatly improving its chances of surviving to adulthood.

Thank you to Kahori, Jeroen and Oliver from DOC and of course, the wonderful Nagi for this find and new addition to the creche.

Click below to read the full story – it’s a great read featuring the critically endangered Wainuia clarki native snail.

https://www.ecoed.org.nz/routine-field-trip-ends-with-unexpected-chick-find/

Pictured: Jeroen and Kahori from DOC with Manu and the chick (under Jeroen’s jersey); Back in Napier, fitting a transmitter on the chick.

Photo credit – Oliver

31/10/2025

We are delighted to announce the continuation of our partnership with Stantec who have extended their sponsorship of ECOED for another 12 months. Stantec is a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting, and it’s a pleasure to partner with a business that shares in our conservation values. In 2023, Stantec’s contribution saw the aptly named Stanley the kiwi (pictured below) successfully raised and released into the Kaweka Forest Park. It won’t be long before Stanley starts breeding and having chicks of his own!

Ngā mihi, Stantec. We look forward to sharing in more kiwi and conservation adventures with you over the next year. 🤝🐣

29/10/2025

How’s it looking at your place after those wild westerlies we’ve been having lately? 🌬
We copped a decent whack of damage to our predator fence surrounding the creche at lake Opouahi. Ben, our creche caretaker, discovered the damage yesterday afternoon, and with the help of Tutira locals Polly and Roger MacDonald, the trio got it fixed yesterday evening. Ben wouldn’t have been able to mend the fence on his own before darkness fell, so the fact Polly and Roger dropped everything to help really saved us. Who knows how many predators would have crept in overnight if not for their quick fix. Absolute legends! 🔨 💪

21/10/2025