We have successfully released two more kiwi into the Heads in the past month.  “Te Rata” was caught on Limestone Island by ranger Ben Barr who heard him calling nearby while he was cooking tea. Ben snuck out and nabbed him. He was released by a good crowd of locals at Zac Smith’s place on the south side of Kauri Mt.  On his way there he paid a visit to the Whangarei Heads School and Parua Bay School to be welcomed to his new home.   Te Rata was one of last season’s chicks and was a healthy 1725g in weight.

One of the kiwi chicks from the Department of Conservation 1080 trials in the study block at Rarewarewa (just north of Purua) reached transfer weight last month so was also ready to come to the Heads. He/She has been named “Robin” by Moria Pagan and Wayne Burchall who are one of WHLF Backyard kiwi’s Foundation sponsors.  Robin visited the Papakarahi Landcare nursery team at the Nook and Parua Bay School before being released at Grant and Raewyn Fabers on the north side of Kauri Mt.