Rakiura’s kiwi neighbours back project
If there’s one place in New Zealand where you’re almost guaranteed to see a kiwi, it’s Rakiura Stewart Island – where kiwi outnumber people.
Island resident Diana Morris, of the Stewart Island Community and Environment Trust, says Capital Kiwi’s ambition to have kiwi returned to Wellington is possible.
Capital Kiwi, launched on Monday, is aimed at making Wellington a home for kiwi again from Miramar Peninsula and Porirua Harbour – even in backyards.
‘‘I think it’s totally doable, and I’d like to think that people will always respect and think they [kiwi] are special, and perhaps not become complacent,’’ Morris said.
‘‘I would like to commend all the people working to make those areas safe for the birds to be introduced to the area.’’
Stewart Island is the only place in New Zealand where kiwi aren’t considered endangered. There’s a population of about 18,000 kiwi – more than the island’s 400 human residents. The island’s residents were already coexisting with kiwi.
On Stewart Island, they have to be mindful of how they view kiwi, and drive slowly at night, she said.
Often scratching around backyards, Morris said she also sees kiwi crossing her path on her way to work, just going about their business. ‘‘Often at 7am, I am brushing my teeth and I am literally hearing them out my window. At night, when you’re going to sleep, you can hear them calling.’’
Morris said despite the amount of kiwi on the island, people still saw it as something special.
Morris has lived on Stewart Island for seven years, and said she still treasured seeing kiwi. Tourists often visit the island with their sole reason being to spy the country’s
‘‘I would like to commend all the people working to make those areas safe for the birds to be introduced to the area.’’ Diana Morris, of the Stewart Island Community and Environment Trust
most famous bird.
‘‘It’s a real buzz. People come from all over the world to come here to see kiwi . . . it’s really special because they’re seen here in the daytime as well as at night time.’’
Morris, who grew up in Wellington, said she would have loved to have seen kiwi in her childhood.
To have kiwi back in the capital city would take great change, she said.
‘‘If you’re to have a grounddwelling bird returned, and they don’t understand about roads . . . people will need to be mindful of that and act responsibly.
‘‘But the benefits far outweigh it.’’