YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER |NOVEMBER 2023 | No.254
THE COATESVILLE CHRONICLE Email coatesvillechronicle@gmail.com | ph 021 724 001 | online coatesvillechronicle.com
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Turning a Kiwi Dream into Reality
oatesville locals may once again hear the call of kiwi in local bush-clad areas, thanks to the sustained trapping efforts of the Pest Free Coatesville group. Gary Langridge the group's leader says kiwi were last seen in Coatesville roughly 15 years ago. DOC has initially agreed to translocate birds in the next 2-3 years, returning our foremost native species to a place where it once lived. However, before that can happen the land must be prepared for translocation. This will require a programme of intense trapping to reduce pest animal numbers further, especially mustelids, which pose the worst pest animal threat to kiwi. The good news is that according to an ecological assessment carried out by Manu Davidson, Massey University lecturer and Coatesville local, Coatesville certainly has enough viable habitat to support a kiwi population. "Kiwi love the bush, and, as well as the areas of DOC scenic reserve, we also have the Riverhead Forest on our doorstep. All-up Manu has estimated there's around 3500 hectares of
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interconnected bushland that will provide an extensive area for kiwi to inhabit," says Gary. But, surprisingly, they could also arrive in Coatesville under their own steam. Apparently the birds can travel over some pretty reasonable distances during their nocturnal outings. "Kiwi translocated in Mount Tamahanga near Matakana in March this year have already travelled around 10kms and others from a different translocation have been seen in Kaukapakapa." So they may turn up unannounced! Pest Free Coatesville has geared up to achieve their goal by forming a dedicated sub-committee. But Gary says Coatesville locals can help by intensifying their trapping efforts, especially focusing on mustelids and secondly by committing to responsible pet ownership. "Dogs are the number one killer of kiwi and one dog can wipe out an entire colony of kiwi," he says. "We need people to start getting used to the idea of walking their dogs on-lead in bush areas and for cat owners to keep their cats inside at night."
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Funding support will also be needed. "It's going to cost around $30K a year over 10 years to tag and follow kiwi once they're reintroduced, so we'll be looking for support from a benefactor or sponsor to help make this kiwi dream a reality." And, after kiwi are successfully translocated there may be others to follow, like tuatara, giving Coatesville back more native fauna.
NOVEMBER CONTENTS 3 November events CCGC goes to town 4 Pony Club season 5 is shaping up well Coasteville School's Ag Day photos 6 Scout Leader Phil Smith talks Jamboree 9 10 Local Board Update 11 Classifieds The Tide has Turned 12