One peninsula to the north of the Bay of Islands is home to an estimated three thousand Northland brown kiwi. The Pest Free Purerua-Mataroa project aims to reduce predators numbers on the peninsula and defend its narrow neck from re-invasion. Working across a patchwork of landuse and landowners, the team are using AI traps and technology to help catch the remaining pests. But one feral cat continues to elude them, and the ongoing threat to kiwi from pet dogs is proving tricky to solve.

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Learn more:

• Northland kiwi are a genetically distinct subspecies of the North Island brown kiwi, whose numbers are doing pretty good in recent years, due in large part to Operation Nest Egg facilities like the National Kiwi Hatchery.
• Predator Free South Westland is also working across different land types and usages in their bid to remove pests from a huge area.
• Wellington is set to be New Zealand’s first predator-free city, with an ambitious target of ten years.
• RNZ’s Northland reporter Peter de Graaf has been following the situation of dog attacks on kiwi on the Purerua peninsula and kiwi deaths due to cars.

Guests:

• Andy Mentor, Pest Free Purerua
• Zane Wright, Pest Free Purerua
• Mariao Hohaia, Ngāti Rēhia, Tapuaetahi Incorporation
• Grace Walsh, Onekura road trappers
• Tiwai Rawiri, Ngāti Torehina, Pēwhairangi Whānui

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details