Taiao Leaders Excited by Kaitake Kiwi Chicks

Monitoring data shows that kiwi pair Puanga and Aroha, have hatched a chick in mid November. Te Ara Taiao students from Ōmata, Ōākura and Coastal Taranaki Schools have been helping to monitor these kiwi released on the Kaitake Ranges in 2021. 

Photo: Students and Kaiako learning to use telemetry equipment to monitor kiwi in the Kaitake Range.  [Photo: Taranaki Kiwi Trust]

Puanga and Aroha were released on the Kaitake Range in Autumn 2021. Data shows the father Puanga, hatched at least one chick in January, and another recently in November 2022.

Puanga was named by students of Ōmata School, after the star which marks the start of the Māori New Year in Taranaki, and signifies new beginnings.

‘These Te Ara Taiao leaders are growing their conservation skills alongside tikanga, Te Reo and mātauranga,’ says Tāne Manukonga, Te Ara Taiao Kaiwhakahaere. 

The Te Ara Taiao students are part of a volunteer monitoring roster, and are actively supported by Nga Mahanga a Tairi who are Mana Whenua of the Kaitake Rohe, Taranaki Kiwi Trust, The Kaitake Ranges Conservation Trust, TRC and others. Kotahitanga or collective action is one of the values of the Te Ara Taiao programme.

Toby Shanley, Taranaki Kiwi Trust, says the biggest threat to chick survival is from predators, mainly stoats, weasels, ferrets, wild cats. ‘Kiwi chicks from these monitored birds will not have transmitters attached. Predator control is critical to help them survive in the wild.’  Volunteers from the Kaitake Ranges Conservation Trust, DOC and Taranaki Mounga staff service an extensive network of traps across the Kaitake Range.

Students from Ōākura School put up signs in their local community to remind residents of the taonga living in the region, and to keep dogs out of Te Papakura o Taranaki National Park.   

Ōākura students with their sign reminding people to keep their pets out of the national park. [Photo: Vanessa Laurie | Stuff]

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Te Ara Taiao brings together Hapū, Schools and community to strengthen the environmental mahi already under way with in Taranaki. A network of Education Coordinators work with young people to grow their environmental leadership in Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Hurihuri.