Kiwi Protection Programme Reaps Rewards

More than 400 hunters had their dogs trained to avoid kiwi this year in a nationwide blitz BNZ Save the Kiwi Trust National Mentor for Advocacy, Wendy Sporle hopes will halt the numbers of our national icon being killed by canines.

“Dogs are responsible for the highest number of adult kiwi deaths. It only takes a few seconds for a dog to sniff out a kiwi and shake it causing death or such massive shock and internal bleeding that the kiwi later dies.

“We’re really pleased with the numbers of hunters that have come forward with their dogs this year. It increases awareness of the harm dogs can do, there is always lot of talking and exchange of stories at the training courses. They offer a way we can all stand along side each other to save our national icon.”

Kiwi Aversion Training is a simple method, where the trainer puts an electric collar on the dog and takes it around a course where there are dead kiwi, kiwi nests and kiwi droppings. Each time the dog lunges toward them, it gets a quick electric shock. This method of training dogs to avoid kiwi is a very simple, proven method and works with most canines.

However, Ms Sporle says it isn’t, and never will be, one hundred percent fool-proof, there is no guarantee and hunters must still take care with their dogs in the bush.

“Once a dog has been through the kiwi aversion programme, it must return within a year to be tested,” she further commented.

“Many dog owners think ‘my dog wouldn’t do that’. But in fact ANY dog can and will kill kiwi, no matter how docile or obedient it may be,” says Ms Sporle.

Dogs and kiwi don’t mix. Without wing muscles to protect it, the kiwi’s chest structure can be easily crushed. Any dog can kill a kiwi in seconds simply by picking it up in its mouth.

Whanganui resident, Trevor Dais has been pig hunting for 25 years and has only ever seen one kiwi in the bush in all that time, despite going into areas where they used to number in the tens of thousands.

So when he heard about an opportunity to put his dog through a kiwi aversion programme, he jumped at the chance. It was a good thing he did; shortly after his dog had successfully completed the training, he got a phone call from BNZ Save the Kiwi Trust executive director, Michelle Impey saying he had won a hunting trip to the Motu Valley. The prize includes a return flight with Central Helicopter’s to the Motu – one of the country’s best boar and stag hunting areas -, a year’s supply of Purina dog food and a cash contribution toward vet bills.

“I was pretty happy to hear I’d won,” said Mr Dais. “The aversion training was very worthwhile, too. It only took about 15 minutes. By the end of the training, I had a really good idea of just how easy it was for a dog to kill a kiwi, how easy it would be to wipe them out, but also how simple it was to stop my dog potentially doing harm by getting her trained.

It’s important that we hunters do our bit to protect kiwi.”

Mr Dais hopes to take his trip to the Motu Valley in April next year. “When the deer are roaring and the pigs are plentiful,” he reckons.