Care of kiwi under investigation

• Published date: 27 May 2023
• Publication title: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)

The inquiry comes amid national outrage over the treatment of a kiwi at Zoo Miami

The Cape Sanctuary in Hawke’s Bay has been the subject of several reports over the past five years, some carried out by Doc and some external.

The privately-owned conservation estate has accommodation, golf and fine dining on-site. In 2018, concerns about a high number of kiwi deaths led to the discovery that the sanctuary had been running kiwi encounters without a licence and despite concerns for their welfare.

Doc and the sanctuary have now confirmed an external review is nearly complete, and due out in June.

The sanctuary released a statement through its lawyer: ‘‘There is currently an independent investigation into some allegations. Cape Sanctuary has fully co-operated and looks forward to the release of the report so the facts are made clear.’’

A memo from Doc to the minister for conservation, dated January 24, 2019 and obtained under the OIA, noted the deaths of 21 brown kiwi at the sanctuary in the summer of 2017-18, and explained the site was ‘‘not predator free due to the ‘leaky’ nature of the predator-proof fence where it runs along cliff edges’’.

It went on to say: ‘‘We believe these losses were a result of dry environmental conditions and potentially predation.’’

Changes had been made, including a new management team and staff.

‘‘We have established better systems and processes with the sanctuary,’’ the memo read.

‘‘We are confident that wildlife are being managed appropriately at Cape Sanctuary.’’

This week, kiwi encounters at Zoo Miami were cancelled after footage of visitors handling Paora the kiwi under bright lights caused national outcry.

Doc said it had taken its concerns to the zoo over how the bird was being treated, and one conservationist told RNZ: ‘‘We would never be allowed to do that anywhere in New Zealand’’.

‘‘You see all the kiwi houses in New...