Mayor's Message

The successful reintroduction of kiwi into the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary this month is a momentous conservation achievement for Nelson of which the city can be very proud.

These 40 iconic birds are settling well into their new home and our hope is that their numbers grow into the hundreds.

Little spotted kiwi, or kiwi pukupuku, was NZ’s most prolific kiwi species numbering many millions. They have long been endangered on the North and South Islands due to predators, particularly stoats.

Our kiwi are descendants of birds rescued from Westland in 1912 and transferred to Kapiti Island. The population there has since grown to the island’s full capacity of about 1200. The total population of the species is only 1900. The significance of our new population is that it is the first on the South Island and in their natural habitat.

This reintroduction is only possible because of the visionary work 20 years ago led by the late Dave Butler and supported by Nelson Rotary. We owe thanks to the donors for the millions raised for the predator-proof fence and the tireless work of thousands of volunteers.

Council has contributed by leasing the land to the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary Trust, granting $1 million for the fence and providing annual funding of about $176,000. I played a small part in helping secure a $1.25 million government grant when I was Minister of Conservation and, last year, lobbying Minister Tama Potaka for DOC’s support for the kiwi transfer.

The pest eradication work in 2017 was intensely controversial. It was unsuccessfully challenged by the Brook Valley Community Group in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. There was deliberate sabotage of the fence and a helicopter fuel tank that was being used for the poisoning operation. I was assaulted with rat poison in the worst altercation in 30 years of being at the Nelson Market.

The reintroduction of kiwi follows that of kākāriki karaka (orange-fronted parakeets) in 2021, powelliphanta (giant land snails) in 2022 and tuatara last year.

I love that we will be able to hear the call of the kiwi so close to our city. The kiwi will also help our visitor industry and enhance the adjacent Brook campground, which Council recently leased to the Sanctuary.

I thank everyone involved and encourage ongoing support for the Sanctuary Trust, so we protect and nurture these precious kiwi into the future.