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The Tongariro Kiwi Sanctuary lies within the Tongariro Forest Conservation
Area, and covers a total of 15,000 hectares in three separate blocks. This
sanctuary is a haven for a population of western North Island brown kiwi, and
is part of Bank of New Zealand
Kiwi
Recovery.
Predator control efforts have concentrated on possums, stoats and rats.
The entire 15,000 hectares received an aerial application of 1080 poison
for control of possums during the 2001 winter. This had a positive impact on
the kiwi population in the 2001/02 breeding season, with 43 per cent of
chicks surviving to 1 kg in weight, well above the target of 25 per cent,
and well above the national annual average of 5 per cent.
All kiwi monitored during the 1080 operation were unharmed.
It is intended to increase the number of kiwi pairs monitored in future
years to improve the statistical robustness of the monitoring programme in
this area. |
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