Kaipara Forest Conservation Trust

26/08/2026

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!

12/06/2026

Our kiwi must be the last tough survivors. We have cleared out 20 ferrets since our inception. 1 last year. Our best year was 7. Thanks to one of the landowners who targets these villains with persistence. We utilize live capture traps, Timms, SA cat and DOC 250s. However the live captures seem to be more successful and they catch cats as well. We have caught over 200 of those. Holding the line!

Of the 142,096 pests trapped in 2025 across Northland only 9 were ferrets. Mapping the catch locations confirms that as per previous years, no ferrets were caught in the Far North. It looks like a ferret front line spanning coast to coast and it is similar each year we have mapped the data.
Combining the catches with a map of high density kiwi populations (dark purple blobs) shows an even more remarkable pattern, first identified in the mid 1990's by Dr Ray Pierce: in general, where we have ferrets, we no longer have strong kiwi populations.
It means those catches of ferrets by the Pukenui Western Hills Forest Trust and Manulife Whanui projects were absolutely critical. Well done trappers!
Kiwi Coast supports a 'Zero Tolerance' approach to ferrets - let's ensure our projects have ferret capable traps and toxins, treat every Northland ferret catch as crucial, stop that line moving northwards and work on driving ferrets out of Northland!

16/11/2024

An early Christmas present for the kiwi in the Houto forest. A few more SA3 traps to add to the collection.

10/09/2022

Out and about in the Mangaru Range recutting the traplines. Kiekie, kowhai and rewarewa all flowering. Nice to have help too.....

11/08/2022

Kiwi calling in duet in the Northern Houto with ruru in the background.