Kiwi avoidance training offered

Dog owners across the Matakana region are being encouraged to take extra steps to protect local kiwi populations, with the Forest Bridge Trust expanding its Kiwi Avoidance Training programme for the summer holiday period.

The training initiative was launched in 2022 alongside preparations for the reintroduction of kiwi to Tamahunga and has been running successfully for the past three years.

Since then, interest from dog owners has steadily grown as kiwi populations at Tawharanui, Tamahunga and Mataia continue to expand and, in some cases, venturing into residential backyards.

Forest Bridge Trust representatives say responsible dog owners are increasingly recognising avoidance training as an important way to help safeguard the vulnerable birds.

The programme works with an experienced local trainer who is familiar with both the area and the dogs involved, ranging from working and hunting breeds to family pets. Each session is carefully tailored to individual dogs and uses light correction with an e-collar.

During training, dogs encounter prop kiwi, nesting material, droppings and scent along a course of about 100 metres. Most dogs quickly learn to navigate around and avoid the simulated kiwi environment. While the training reduces the likelihood of dangerous encounters, owners are still advised to keep dogs on a leash in areas where kiwi are likely to be present.

Kiwi have a strong scent that is highly attractive to dogs, and because the birds lack flight muscles, even a gentle nudge can cause serious injury. One Whangaripo resident only became aware of kiwi on their property after their kiwi-avoidance-trained dog showed visible signs of discomfort during a leashed walk, flattening its ears and lowering its tail before returning to normal behaviour. Trust staff say this reaction highlights both the effectiveness of the training and how close kiwi may be to homes without residents realising.

Although kiwi are mainly nocturnal, longer daylight hours and drier conditions over summer can see them extend their feeding and foraging, increasing the risk of encounters with dogs.

To coincide with the holiday season, the trust is offering summer holiday Kiwi Avoidance Training for the first time.

The session will be held on Sunday January 25, at 303 Omaha Flats Road, Omaha, starting at 9am. It is open to local residents, bach owners and holidaymakers visiting the area with their dogs, and is funded by the Rodney Local Board.

Dog owners can register online via the trust website for a free 10-minute training slot. Participants receive a certificate by email the following week.

Certificates are valid for six months, with additional sessions extending certification for one or two years, and are often required for permits on some Department of Conservation land and camping areas.

“With kiwi living closer to our homes and holiday spots, every trained dog makes a difference,” the trust says.