Nine kiwi have been killed in the Bay of Islands, with all of them found in a single bay over the past six weeks.
The first dead bird was discovered on January 29 at Wharengaere Bay, followed by more in the weeks after. Most of the birds had injuries that suggest they were attacked by dogs.
The Far North District Council has received complaints about roaming dogs in the area since mid-2024. Officers are now checking on dogs suspected of wandering, and some dog owners have been fined. However, the Department of Conservation has not yet been able to confirm which dogs are responsible.
This is not the first time kiwi have been attacked at Wharengaere Bay. In 2019, a dog killed six kiwi, leading to a rare prosecution where the owner was fined. Similar incidents have happened elsewhere in the Bay of Islands, including in Ōpua Forest in 2023 and Wharau Road in 2015.
Conservation groups are frustrated, as Purerua Peninsula—where Wharengaere Bay is located—has one of the highest kiwi populations in the North Island. The area is also home to a major pest-control program, but roaming dogs remain a serious threat to the native birds.
