Kuwi’s Journey with Save the Kiwi

By Kat Quin

For as long as I can remember, the kiwi has been a symbol of our country. But while kiwi are deeply loved, they are also in danger. Without help, only around 5% of chicks survive in the wild to become adults. This reality is what drives Save the Kiwi, the national charity working to reverse the decline of our treasured bird.

Starting with the first book Kuwi’s First Egg, I had always wanted to contribute to kiwi conservation. After doing my research, I discovered the Save the Kiwi (formerly known as Kiwis for Kiwi) charity. I spoke about donating a percentage of the profit from each book sold to the cause, and at first, I thought if I could raise $1,000 from the first print run, that would be pretty amazing. Now, we’ve raised over 70 times that amount and counting.

For over ten years, I have had the privilege of serving as an ambassador for Save the Kiwi. This role has become one of the most meaningful parts of my creative and personal journey. Through my Kuwi the Kiwi books and school visits, I have been able to share the story of the kiwi with hundreds of thousands of tamariki and their whānau.

The Work of Save the Kiwi

Save the Kiwi brings together iwi, scientists, landowners, community groups, and volunteers to do the work needed to protect kiwi across Aotearoa.

They support predator control projects, dog kiwi aversion training, research, and community-led conservation. One of their most powerful programmes is Operation Nest Egg: collecting kiwi eggs from the wild, hatching them safely, and raising chicks in predator-free crèches until they are big enough to fend for themselves. With this help, survival rates increase from 5% to around 65%. Using this programme has accelerated the growth of populations at predator-free sanctuaries, like Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari and Motutapu Islands, setting them up as source sites to repopulate the wild in perpetuity.

Kuwi’s Contribution

Since becoming an ambassador, I have woven kiwi conservation into every part of my work. Through book sales, my readers and I have raised over $70,000 for Save the Kiwi. To put it into perspective, every $100 helps protect a kiwi for an entire year, so together we’ve given hundreds of kiwi a fighting chance.

I’ve been honoured to visit kiwi chicks being helped through Operation Nest Egg, and to take part in kiwi releases, watching young kiwi released back into the wild. But, one of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been speaking to tamariki in schools. I love watching their eyes light up when they learn how much difference small actions can make.

We talk about simple things: keeping dogs on leads, supporting local predator control, fundraising for conservation projects. Children carry those messages home, sparking conversations with their families I hope will last a lifetime.

Why Storytelling Matters

Statistics and facts alone don’t always inspire children, sometimes it can be stories. Through Kuwi the Kiwi, I have seen how children connect emotionally with the character, and how this connection sparks real concern for kiwi in the wild and a passion for conservation.

Through Kuwi the Kiwi, I’ve witnessed how much children connect with the character, and how that emotional bond can create a genuine care for wild kiwi and a passion for conservation.

I see part of my role as making conservation something children can relate to on a personal level. If they’re fans of Kuwi, they become fans of real kiwi. I love sharing what makes the kiwi so unique, often through a ‘How to Draw Kuwi’ session where we explore the bird’s fascinating features, like its incredible egg-to-body size ratio.

Through sharing my own creative and fundraising journey, I aim to show children their voices and choices truly matter.

How You Can Help

When I talk to kids (and adults) about kiwi conservation, I always like to leave them with simple, practical steps:

• Be a responsible dog owner: If you live or walk near kiwi habitat, make sure your dogs are on a leash when walking near bushland. Kiwi avoidance training can be an option that can help but the best bet is to keep them under control, or away from restricted areas.
• Support predator control: Donate or volunteer with your local conservation group. Every trap really does make a difference.
• Individuals, schools and communities can fundraise and host events.
• Purchase a Kuwi book or product: For every Kuwi the Kiwi book purchased, a portion of the sale is donated to Save the Kiwi. With your support, I’m working towards the goal of raising $100,000 by the 15th anniversary of the series!

Working towards saving the kiwi takes persistence, passion, and the collective effort of thousands of people across Aotearoa. But the results are worth it – stronger kiwi populations, more predator-free sanctuaries, and the possibility our future generations will be able to hear the call of kiwi in the night.

For more information on Save the Kiwi, visit Save the Kiwi

For more about the Kuwi books, or to reach out about a school visit, go to www.kuwi.co.nz

Kuwi the Kiwi Treasury by Kat Quin, Illustrated Publishing, RRP $49.99 is out now