Landowner welcomes project
Michael Grace, owner of Te Kamaru Station, says he wants kiwi roaming on his land again.
It’s part of Terawhiti Station – the biggest station in the region – and the largest section in Capital Kiwi’s trapping plan.
Grace was one of the landowners approached by Capital Kiwi for consent to trap on their land – the landowners and kaitiaki who can make it happen.
‘‘From growing up on the property, which was arguably a wasteland . . . to have kiwi back on the property in 3 to 5 years is incredibly exciting.’’
Grace said he had never seen a kiwi in the wild anywhere in New Zealand. ‘‘Exciting doesn’t really cut it for what it’s going to feel like to have kiwi back.’’
Capital Kiwi’s first trap was set on Grace’s land yesterday.
‘‘My family are excited to think we can be involved in part of an audacious project to bring kiwi back.’’
There were naysayers but the advice he received from kiwi experts had made him an optimist.
The station already had some predator control but nothing at that scale, he said.
Tenants living on the station were prepared to check the traps.
Terawhiti Station is one of New Zealand’s oldest and largest sheep stations, located along the south coast of Wellington. It covers about 13,000 hectares.
Te Kamaru Station is one of three farms, all owned by the same family, which are collectively known as Terawhiti Station.
It will be home to hundreds of traps set by Capital Kiwi.
Stoat and ferret traps will be installed across the southwest of the North Island, including Terawhiti and Kinoull stations, the land supporting the Meridian wind farms, Te Kopahou Reserve and Makara Peak.