Category: MIL-OSI

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Significant maintenance contracts up for renewal

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland Council is renewing a significant suite of full facilities and maintenance contracts, to support the upkeep of thousands of community, park and play assets across the region for the next five to 10 years.

These contracts cover all the services required to maintain 10,298 hectares of gardens and green spaces, 853 toilets, 775km of carparks, 897 playgrounds, 66 libraries, 43 pools, three holiday parks and 3,661 kilometres of walkways in Tāmaki Makaurau.

General Manager of Parks and Community Facilities Taryn Crewe says a key focus of the procurement process is cost efficiency and that will involve looking at how the new contracts can deliver the best value for ratepayers.

“The council commits around $195 million each year – around $100 per resident – to keep our extensive range of local parks and sports fields mowed, trees trimmed, facilities clean and buildings maintained to a high standard for widespread community use,” says Mrs Crewe.

“The full facilities and maintenance contracts are critical to managing these assets well for everyone to enjoy, now and for generations to come.

“To identify strengths and key areas for improvement, the council has gathered extensive feedback, analysed the performance data of our existing contracts, and reviewed facilities management best practices across Australasia.”

In 2017, the council combined the maintenance of parks and community facilities under a small number of large outcome-based contracts, that expire in 2027. This aimed to leverage the council’s scale, simplify maintenance operations and manage risks through outsourcing.

The current contract renewal looks to secure contracts that include large and small suppliers, with locally led decision-making.

“We are looking to retain the strengths and proven benefits of having large service providers with some key improvements from contracting smaller local suppliers, and keeping specialised skills in-house,” says Ms Crewe.

“We’ve identified a need to align new contracts with increased local board decision-making responsibilities and priorities, while also maintaining cost-efficiency and consistent service delivery across the region.”

In parks, reserves and open spaces, contractors undertake litter removal, mowing, cleaning of toilets, BBQs and playgrounds, facility maintenance and repairs, and managing pest plants and animals.

In and outside halls, libraries and community centres, leisure centres and pool facilities, ongoing work is required to maintain and clean public areas including toilets, changing rooms and storage buildings.    

Further work by contractors helps to look after urban gardens, keep streetscapes, bus shelters and town centres clean.

Expressions of interest are open to all providers, large and small, until 11 March 2026. A detailed evaluation process will follow, with a shortlist of preferred suppliers prepared for the Value for Money Committee to consider in December.

The council’s current contracts finish in June 2027, with new contracts set to start from 1 July 2027. 

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Update: second arrest in Hastings homicide

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Darren Pritchard:

Police investigating the murder of Flaxmere man Keith Pati on 16 February 2025, have made another arrest in relation to the incident.

A search warrant was carried out today in Napier and a 35-year-old woman was arrested.

She will appear in the Hastings District Court this Friday 27 February 2026, charged with being an accessory after the fact.

Keith Pati died following an altercation in Camberley, Hastings.

A 29-year-old Napier man has been charged with his murder. He is remanded in custody and is due to appear in the Napier High Court 8 June 2026.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Fatal Crash: SH2, Mangatāwhiri

Source: New Zealand Police

Police can confirm one person has died following a serious crash on State Highway 2 near Mangatāwhiri.

Emergency services were called to a crash involving a truck and car at around 11.10am.

Sadly, the driver of the car died at the scene.

The truck driver suffered moderate injuries and was transported to hospital.

The Serious Crash Unit is in attendance and enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

State Highway 2 remains closed in both directions between Rawiri Road and Kopuku Road.

The road is expected to remain closed until this evening.

ENDS

Frankie Le Roy/NZ Police

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Bamboo: beloved backyard feature or Auckland’s quiet green invader?

Source: Auckland Council

Bamboo has a reputation problem. To some Aucklanders it’s a design darling – sleek, fast-growing and perfect for privacy. To others, it’s the plant that ate the fence, cracked the driveway and popped up next door without permission.

Originally from South America and Asia, bamboo is one of the most extraordinary plants on earth, with more than 1,400 species. None, however, are native to New Zealand.

Bamboo first arrived in the mid-1800s, reportedly with Governor Grey, who planted it for ornamental appeal. Those historic plantings still stand today at the Auckland Domain and Kawau Island’s Mansion House.

Over time, crown research institutes imported bamboo for agricultural trials, and by the 20th century it was being grown for food, construction and gardens. That’s when the love–hate relationship began.

Running bamboo – a pest plant in Auckland.

Auckland Council’s Senior Regional Advisor Pest Plants Holly Cox says bamboo quickly became a plant that inspires strong feelings.

“People admire its beauty and versatility, but those dealing with invasive plantings can find it incredibly frustrating.”

The key difference lies underground.

Clumping bamboo stays put and is widely used in Auckland’s courtyards and compact gardens that do not cause any problems. Running bamboo, however, is a pest plant that spreads through aggressive underground rhizomes and can take over large areas if left unchecked. Large running species push through fences, paths and even underground services.

Running bamboo pest plant that has spread from one property to another.

With Auckland’s diverse population, demand for bamboo has grown, particularly from communities wanting edible shoots or a reminder of home. But the nuisance and likely damage risks are real. Invasive running bamboo can outcompete regenerating native trees, forming dense stands that dominate the landscape, also making it a potential environmental risk.

For those wanting to plant bamboo, Auckland Council encourages gardeners to talk to suppliers and nurseries to establish which bamboo species with best for their space.

To limit the damage, Auckland Council has banned six high-risk species under the Regional Pest Management Plan. These bamboos can’t be sold, bred or planted, although existing plants can be moved within the same property boundary.

Bamboo doesn’t spread by birds or wind. Instead, it creeps quietly through rhizomes which is why neighbour disputes are common.

Senior Conservation Advisor Michelle Brinsden say she gets many requests for help with bamboo removal on private property.

“Council can’t enforce removal unless it breaches the pest plan. The responsible action is to remove your bamboo or at the very least control it, so it doesn’t spread beyond your boundary.

“If invasive running bamboo isn’t controlled early, it can quickly spread underground, cross property boundaries, and become extremely costly to remove.”

There is some unexpected, good news. Several invasive species, including black and golden bamboo, are currently flowering worldwide, a rare event that often leads to the plant’s death. In Auckland, many affected groves are already thinning and weakening, reducing their invasive impact.

Bamboo isn’t Auckland’s villain but planted carelessly, it can become one.

For more information on bamboo, visit the Tiaki Tāmaki Makaurau website.

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Te Ngāherehere o Kohukohunui / Hūnua Ranges pest control delivers outstanding gains for native wildlife

Source: Auckland Council

Auckland’s Te Ngāherehere o Kohukohunui / Hūnua Ranges are thriving, with new monitoring results confirming a dramatic reduction in possum and rat numbers while delivering ideal conditions for native wildlife to flourish.

Results from Auckland Council’s 2025 Hūnua aerial pest control operation, funded by the Natural Environment Targeted Rate, show possum numbers have dropped from a pre-control Residual Trap Catch (RTC) of 2.2 per cent to just 0.16 per cent post-control. Rat numbers saw an even more dramatic decline, falling from a pre-monitor Rodent Tracking Index (RTI) of 90–100 per cent to 1.34 per cent.

Auckland Council’s Project Manager Miranda Bennett says these results are outstanding and exceed the targets set in the 2025 operational plan.

“We aimed for under two per cent RTC for possums and under three per cent RTI for rats, and both were comfortably achieved. At these levels, the forest can recover, and native species can thrive.”

Council has identified sites of significant biodiversity value that require possum control at or below two–five per cent RTC, while national technical guidance, including from the Kōkako Recovery Group, supports rat control targets below three per cent RTI. The Hūnua results sit well within these benchmarks.

Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of Auckland Council’s Policy, Planning and Development Committee says the outcome clearly demonstrates the value of pest control and maximising the tools we currently have available.

“This work shows what is possible when science, experience and long-term commitment come together. The return of native birds nesting again in the Te Ngāherehere o Kohukohunui / Hūnua Ranges, is a powerful signal these forests are healthier and more resilient.”

Despite significant weather delays, the aerial operation was completed park-wide by the end of October, perfectly timed for the summer bird breeding season. Kōkako, kererū, kākā and other native species are now benefiting from a low-pest environment during their most critical breeding period.

The 2025 operation treated 19,885 hectares using aerially applied 1080, alongside 130 hectares of ground control. In total, 22 private land parcels were treated, and 855 kilometres of tracks and roads were cleared of bait by volunteers and council staff, ensuring public access could reopen quickly and safely.

This work is part of a long-term, integrated pest management programme, with aerial control carried out around every three years to maintain ecological gains. Te Ngāherehere o Kohukohunu has now remained below five per cent possum levels for a decade, with clear biodiversity benefits to show for it.

“But we can’t rest on our laurels,” says Bennett.

“Rats in particular can reinvade within six months, so our rangers, volunteers and community partners are already back on the ground checking traps and protecting key kōkako breeding areas.”

Since 2019, Auckland Council has also funded possum control across the 14,000-hectare “Hunua Halo” on surrounding private land, working alongside landowners, mana whenua, DOC, Watercare and community groups to slow reinvasion and protect the park’s gains.

“This is collaboration and targeted investment delivering at its best,” says Cr Hills.

“Together, we’re giving nature the breathing space it needs and the results speak for themselves.”

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A forest on the brink of recovery: Kawau Island poised for a pest-free comeback

Source: Auckland Council

Te Kawau Tūmaro ō Tōi / Kawau Island’s forests are showing strong signs they can recover – when long-standing pressures from introduced mammalian pests are removed.

A new baseline forest monitoring report, prepared ahead of a major pest eradication programme, paints a clear picture of both the damage done by browsing animals such as wallabies and possums, and the hopeful future that could follow their removal. 

Once the programme is fully completed, Kawau could become one of the largest permanently inhabited islands in the Hauraki Gulf to be free of pest mammals.

Introduced to Kawau Island in the mid-to late-1800s, the four remaining species of wallabies have had a profound impact on the island’s forests. Alongside other pest mammals, they have heavily eaten seedlings and saplings, creating what ecologists describe as a “recruitment bottleneck”– where young plants struggle to grow into the next generation of forest.

Despite this, the forests have not lost their resilience.

Auckland Council’s Principal Specialist for Natural Environment Operations Lisa Tolich says the really encouraging thing is that the building blocks for recovery are still there.

“We’re seeing a dominance of native plants, plenty of seedlings waiting for their chance to grow, and bird communities that are still relatively intact. That tells us these ecosystems are ready to respond once the pressure is lifted.”

Kawau Island has been identified as a strategic priority area under Auckland Council’s Regional Pest Management Plan. The ‘working towards a pest-free Kawau Island’ programme is a collaborative effort led by Auckland Council with funding through the Natural Environment Targeted Rate as well as funding from central government and third-party philanthropic donations. The project is supported by the Manuhiri Kaitiaki Charitable Trust, the Department of Conservation and developed alongside the local community.

The programme is being rolled out in stages. Stage one, which began in autumn 2025, focuses on removing wallabies and possums – the primary browsing pests. A second stage, subject to feasibility, approvals, funding and further community engagement, would target mammalian predators such as rats and stoats.

Before any eradication work began, a network of forest monitoring plots was established across the island to capture a detailed snapshot of current forest health. This baseline allows scientists and land managers to track changes over time, understand how different forest types respond, and adapt management as needed.

The recent findings show recovery is unlikely to look the same everywhere.

Broadleaved forests with existing diversity are expected to bounce back more quickly, while kānuka-dominated areas and exotic forests may take longer to diversify. There is also a note of caution: removing browsing pressure could allow some invasive weeds, currently kept in check by pests, to spread rapidly if not closely monitored.

“Eradication isn’t the end of the story, it’s the beginning of a new phase of stewardship,” says Tolich.

“Ongoing monitoring will be critical so we can spot emerging issues early and respond before they become major problems.”

To do this, the report recommends re-measuring forest plots every two to three years in the short term, then every five years over the longer term. It also suggests targeted monitoring of high-value native species to better understand how individual populations respond to a pest-free future.

Chair of the Policy, Planning and Development Committee Councillor Richard Hills says the findings offer a hopeful message.

“While decades of browsing have destroyed native flora and held Kawau Island’s forests back, the potential for recovery is strong. 

“With sustained effort, careful monitoring and community support, Te Kawau Tūmaro ō Tōi forests will once again grow, regenerate and thrive which is promising news for the biodiversity of all of our Hauraki Gulf islands not just Kawau.”

Read the full report on Knowledge Auckland.

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Arataki Project Fast-tracked in Hawke’s Bay

Source: New Zealand Government

A new residential development is set to deliver more homes and an economic boost for Hawke’s Bay following the Fast-track approval of the Arataki subdivision in Havelock North says Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop. 

CDL Land NZ Limited lodged its application in July 2025 to provide up to 200 new homes across an 11-hectare site. 

“Approval has taken just 5 months following the commencement of the expert panel,” says Mr Bishop. 

“The project is estimated to generate around $78 million in investment and create approximately 629 jobs over the five-year development period during construction.  

“This project will be very important for the people in Hawke’s Bay. It will create work for local people, bring investment into the area, and deliver more homes for families choosing to build their lives in the area. 

“Housing affordability continues to be a challenging issue for the people of Hawke’s Bay. Over the last 10 years, house prices in Hawke’s Bay increased by 134 per cent and rental prices increased by 86 percent. 

“Hawke’s Bay is another example of how the supply of homes has not kept up with growth. This means locals and temporary workers struggle to find affordable housing.

“This development of hundreds of homes will make a real difference in Hawke’s Bay, where demand for housing is high.  

“This is the sixth Fast-track housing project and eleventh project overall to be approved through Fast-track.” 

Notes to editor:

For more information about the project: Arataki

Fast-track by the numbers:

11 projects approved by expert panels.
18 projects with expert panels appointed.
149 projects are listed in Schedule 2 of the Fast-track Approvals Act, meaning they can apply for Fast-track approval.
47 projects currently progressing through the Fast-track process.
28 projects have been referred to Fast-track by the Minister for Infrastructure.
On average, it has taken 122 working days for decisions on substantive applications from when officials determine an application is complete and in-scope.

Fast-track projects approved by expert panels:

Arataki [Housing/Land]
Homestead Bay [Housing/Land]
Bledisloe North Wharf and Fergusson North Berth Extension [Infrastructure]
Drury Metropolitan Centre – Consolidated Stages 1 and 2 [Housing/Land]
Drury Quarry Expansion – Sutton Block [Mining/Quarrying]
Kings Quarry Expansion – Stages 2 and 3 [Mining/Quarrying]
Maitahi Village [Housing/Land]
Milldale – Stages 4C and 10 to 13 [Housing/Land]
Rangitoopuni [Housing/Land]
Tekapo Power Scheme – Applications for Replacement Resource Consents [Renewable energy]
Waihi North [Mining/Quarrying]

Expert panels have been appointed for:

Ashbourne
Ayrburn Screen Hub
Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project
Green Steel
Haldon Solar Farm
Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme
Lake Pūkaki Hydro Storage and Dam Resilience Works
Mahinerangi Wind Farm
Pound Road Industrial Development
Ryans Road Industrial Development
Southland Wind Farm Project
Sunfield Masterplanned Community
Takitimu North Link – Stage 2
The Point Mission Bay
The Point Solar Farm
Waitaha Hydro
Waitākere District Court – New Courthouse Project
Wellington International Airport Southern Seawall Renewal

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New Pharmac proposal for melanoma patients

Source: New Zealand Government

Associate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown welcome Pharmac’s proposal to widen access to two medicines for people with stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma.

“Improving access to cancer medication in New Zealand is important to cancer patients, and their families. That’s why it has been a focus of this Government,” Mr Seymour says.

Pharmac is proposing to widen access to nivolumab and ipilimumab for people with stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma from 1 May 2026. 

“This proposal would give people who meet funding criteria another immunotherapy option before surgery, while the cancer is still operable. This lowers the chance of the cancer coming back,” Mr Seymour says. 

“Nivolumab and ipilimumab are immunotherapy medicines that help the immune system better recognise and attack certain types of cancer. Using them together can have a stronger effect on the immune response.

“Clinical advisers told Pharmac that using these treatments together before surgery, then adjusting treatment after surgery based on how well the cancer has responded, can lower the chance of melanoma coming back. Nearly two in three people have a very strong response by the time their tumour is removed, with significant shrinkage or very little active disease remaining.

“Because of this strong early response, many people may not need further treatment after surgery. This can mean fewer ongoing infusions, and fewer hospital visits for people with melanoma, their families, and carers. 

“When used early and together, Nivolumab and ipilimumab means some patients require fewer infusions. This is better for patients. It also frees up health resources by reducing pressure on hospitals and oncology infusion centres. We expect this proposal would save about 1,000 infusion hours each year.

Mr Brown says the Government is focused on ensuring New Zealanders have faster access to more effective cancer care.

“From strengthening early detection through expanded screening, to speeding up treatment and improving access to the latest medicines, our priority is making sure Kiwis can get the right care at the right time,” Mr Brown says.

“New Zealanders elected a Government they could trust to invest in better cancer treatments, which is why we provided a $604 million boost to Pharmac. This investment, including funding for 33 new cancer medicines, is expanding access to life-saving and life-extending therapies for thousands of New Zealanders.

“Today’s announcement marks a further step forward in expanding access to advanced treatment options so more melanoma patients can benefit from improved outcomes,” Mr Brown says.

Consultation on the funding proposal opens at 2pm on Tuesday 24 February and closes at 5pm, Monday 9 March 2026. Have your say here: https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-resources/consultations-and-decisions/2026-02-proposal-to-widen-access-to-nivolumab-and-ipilimumab-for-resectable-melanoma

Pharmac is engaging with clinicians, the public, and advocacy groups including Melanoma New Zealand to understand the practical impacts of funding these medicines. Feedback will be considered before a decision is made by Pharmac’s Board, or its delegate.

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Report on under-pressure Waikato wetland delivers clear message

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  24 February 2026

The wetland spans 7,000 hectares of swamps, fens and peat bogs and is one of New Zealand’s seven sites recognised globally for its ecological significance under the international Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Under the Convention, Ramsar Sites must be continually monitored. New Zealand is required to notify the Convention if the ecological character of one of our Ramsar wetlands has changed or is likely to.

This is the first time New Zealand has delivered an international report integrating science alongside maatauranga Maaori, underpinned by the principles of the Ramsar Convention, to comprehensively assess changes in ecological character.

DOC Regional Director Tinaka Mearns says the report, released today, concludes the Whangamarino has deteriorated since it was designated a Ramsar site in 1989.

“Whangamarino has faced mounting pressures for decades, but recent events have made things worse. Poor water quality led to fish and bird deaths in 2022-23, triggered by very low oxygen and a botulism outbreak following floods and extensive input of contaminants and organic matter into the wetland. The human-induced fire in October 2024 was another setback.”

The report identifies a concerning decline in water quality, indigenous wetland habitat, the wetlands’ Australasian bittern/matuku population, and cultural values recognised by mana whenua.

These declines are driven by the modified water regime in the wetland, poor water quality, large-scale fire, and invasive species such as koi carp.

For Waikato Tainui, Whangamarino is a taonga, deeply connected to identity and wellbeing, with significant ecological and cultural values.

“This report confirms what our people have been observing over many years. Maatauranga Maaori and lived experience tell us that the pressures on Whangamarino are cumulative and long-standing, and that restoration must address the whole system; water quality, hydrology, invasive species, and land use, not just individual symptoms,” says Marae Tukere, General Manager, Oranga.

“We acknowledge mana whenua and their tireless mahi monitoring, reporting, and working to mitigate impacts. Their kaitiakitanga and commitment are integral to protecting and sustaining our taiao.”

Internationally, there’s growing recognition that incorporating traditional knowledge and cultural perspectives into conservation reporting produces better conservation outcomes.

Tinaka says the report gives a fuller picture of the ecosystem’s decline and a deeper understanding of what this loss means for mana whenua and local communities.

“By thoroughly assessing the state of both ecological and cultural values in the Whangamarino, the report targets restoration efforts and builds the foundation for a strong collaborative response to revive both the ecology and mauri of Whangamarino.”

Waikato Regional Council Environmental Science Manager Dr Mike Scarsbrook said degradation had occurred over many decades, with the causes and solutions complex and interconnected.

Waikato Regional Council is leading the development of an action plan to respond to the decline, supported by DOC, Waikato Tainui, Waikato River Authority, mana whenua representatives, Fish and Game, landowners and other stakeholders.

The action plan will assess and prioritise actions to improve the health of nearby Lake Waikare (one of the adjacent waterbodies that feeds into the wetland) and Whangamarino itself. The action plan will address the full system, including hydrology, land use, water quality, biodiversity, cultural values and community connection.

“It’s taken a long time for Whangamarino and Lake Waikare to degrade, so it will take a long time for it to recover. Success of the action plan depends on sustained collaboration, investment and accountability – no single intervention will solve the problem. Progress relies on multiple coordinated actions,” says Dr Scarbrook.

DOC also has work underway to control pest plant species at the site, to reduce the spread of willow, golden dodder and royal fern.

Assessment of ecological change of the Whangamarino Wetland Ramsar Site, New Zealand – He arotake i te whakaumu hauropi o te rohe kooreporepo o Whangamarino, Aotearoa (PDF, 6,245K)

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

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Feathered freeloader turns island shed into a nursery

Source: Auckland Council

A Kawau Island resident recently discovered they had an unexpected, feathered houseguest and he wasn’t paying rent.

Tucked into the corner of a humble garden shed, a determined North Island brown kiwi had dragged together an eclectic collection of plastic, paper and whatever else he could shuffle into place to fashion a cosy nursery. The reason? An egg, carefully laid by mum and now entrusted, as is kiwi tradition, to dad.

In the world of kiwi, the boys do the babysitting. Once the egg is laid, the male takes over incubation duties, sitting patiently for around 75–80 days; one of the longest incubation periods of any bird. For weeks, this devoted Kawau Island papa was spotted slipping out under cover of darkness to feed, then quietly returning to resume his devoted vigil.

Even a curious weka popped by to inspect the unusual setup, poking around to see what the shed-dwelling neighbour was up to.

When concerns were raised about the egg’s progress, a small team including Dr Juan Cornejo from Auckland Zoo and Lisa Tolich, Auckland Council’s Principal Specialist – Natural Environment Operations travelled to the island to assess the situation. The adult male was away at the time, but sadly the egg was cold and no longer viable. Candling confirmed the egg had developed to around 55 days, not far off maturity, but there were no visible blood vessels feeding it.

“It’s always disappointing when an egg doesn’t make it, especially when dad has put in such a monumental effort,” said Lisa Tolich.

“But every nesting attempt tells us something important about how our kiwi are doing and reminds us of just how resilient and determined our kiwi are.”

A comprehensive survey undertaken between January and March 2025 has provided the clearest picture yet of the Kawau kiwi population. Across three trips, trained kiwi dogs detected 56 birds, with 51 adults handled, many in just poor to moderate body condition. No chicks or juveniles were found.

“That absence of young birds suggests breeding success has been low in recent years,” said Tolich.

“Dry conditions, habitat degradation and heavy browsing of undergrowth by wallabies are likely reducing food availability and putting pressure on adults.”

Genetic testing also shows Kawau kiwi have very low genetic diversity, tracing back to a small founding population introduced in the 1860s. While unique traits remain, long-term resilience will rely on careful habitat restoration, wallaby control and managed genetic exchange.

While this chapter has a bittersweet ending, there is a bright side; the cheeky shed-squatter has since been picked up on camera, alive and well and hopefully before long, there will be another chance for him to egg sit with a happier outcome.

For this special Kawau kiwi population, this male, as he returns to his nesting duties, may yet play an important role in seasons to come.

What to do if you find a kiwi nesting on your property

  • Do not disturb! – if the bird is sitting on eggs, don’t move the nest, the egg or the bird
  • Keep it safe – make sure cats and dogs can’t disturb it
  • Consider having a backyard trap
  • Report it – let the Department of Conservation know. They may even want to monitor the bird – 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) or
  • Don’t try to handle, feed (including leaving out food) or move the bird.

Visit the Save Kiwi website for more information.