Whakatāne Kiwi Trust

What Whakatāne Kiwi Trust does

The Whakatāne Kiwi Trust is a New Zealand-registered charitable trust (Charities Commission registration CC 27895) established in 2006 to deliver the community-led Whakatāne Kiwi Project in the Bay of Plenty region. It was created after eight North Island brown kiwi were unexpectedly discovered in Ōhope Scenic Reserve in 1999, and a subsequent community initiative in 2001 demonstrated that intensive predator control could arrest chick mortality (a documented improvement from <5% to >20% chick survival). The Trust serves a multi-stakeholder constituency including individual supporters and trap sponsors, corporate principals (Electric Kiwi, WML, EastPack), local schools, the Department of Conservation, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Whakatāne District Council, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, and private landowners across approximately 2,000 hectares of kiwi habitat.

Operationally, the Trust runs a predator-control network of over 90 km of trapping lines using DOC250 traps, AT230 traps fitted with microchip scanners that protect registered domestic cats, humane live cage traps, and a "Mink Police" remote notification system for triggered traps. Kiwi monitoring is conducted via small radio transmitters attached to approximately 40 individual birds, with population growth from four adult pairs in 1999 to more than 350 kiwi and over 100 chicks released since 2009. Educational programming spans preschool through secondary schools, complemented by seasonal night walks (April–July), bush and telemetry tours, kiwi aversion training for dogs, and an online merchandise shop. The Trust holds the registered trademark "Kiwi Capital of the World™."

The Trust's revenue model combines tax-deductible individual donations and bequests, individual sponsorship programs (trap sponsorship at $135 per annum, class sponsorship $250, kiwi health check $500, hatchery visit $1,000), a five-tier corporate sponsorship ladder (Kaka $2K, Miromiro $5K, Toutouwai $10K, Korimako $25K, and Kiwi at $25K+ minimum two-year), ticketed experiences sold via Eventfinda, merchandise priced $12–$65, and an 8% revenue share from the Kiwi Capital Beer collaboration with Mata Beer and artist Sam Poots launched in April 2024. Operations are executed by a board of trustees and seven named contractors covering kiwi management, predator control, education, marketing and funding, volunteer coordination, and finance, supported by more than 6,000 volunteer hours annually.

Name

Whakatāne Kiwi Trust

Legal name

Whakatāne Kiwi Trust

Website

https://whakatanekiwi.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Whakatāne Kiwi Trust is a New Zealand charitable trust protecting North Island brown kiwi in the Whakatāne district through predator control, telemetry monitoring, and education, serving individual supporters, corporate sponsors, schools, and government partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (813990)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community-Based & Indigenous-Led Ecotourism (THAAAEAH), Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Land Use, Indigenous & Community Engagement Policy (EUAMANAL)

Keywords

• Kiwi conservation
• Predator control
• Wildlife monitoring
• Conservation education
• Community conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Whakatāne

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Trap Sponsorship: Individuals and businesses sponsor specific traps in the Kiwi Trust network at $135 per annum. Sponsors can choose traps via an online map and may have their logo displayed at the trap location.
2. Hatchery Visit Sponsorship: $1,000 sponsorship covering egg retrieval, specialist hatchery care, monitoring, and safe return of young kiwi to the forest.
3. Kiwi Health Check Sponsorship: $500 sponsorship for monitoring, assessing, and safeguarding a kiwi's wellbeing as part of the Whakatāne Kiwi Project.
4. Class Sponsorship: $250 enables a classroom to participate in education field trips - outdoor learning experiences in local forest reserves.
5. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling branded merchandise including clothing (t-shirts $28-$65, hoodies $65), accessories (tote bags $25, beanies $25, caps $25), educational items (photographic books $20, footprint tiles $15, finger puppets $12), and sponsorship items.
6. Night Walks: Seasonal night walks (April-July) offering regular walks every Friday evening and children's walks fortnightly on Thursdays. Tickets sold via Eventfinda platform.
7. Bush, Biodiversity and Telemetry Tours: Guided tours through scenic reserves helping with kiwi data collection. $200 per group (limit 2 participants), 2.5 hours duration, participants must be 12 or older.
8. Donations and Bequests: Tax-deductible donations accepted from individuals. Living gifts via regular automatic payments or single donations. Bequests and gifts in wills welcomed.
9. Corporate Sponsorship: Five corporate sponsorship tiers: Kaka ($2K), Miromiro ($5K), Toutouwai ($10K), Korimako ($25K), and Kiwi ($25K minimum 2-year).
10. Kiwi Capital Beer Collaboration: Collaboration with Mata Beer and artist Sam Poots. Mata donates 8% of each beer sold to support kiwi conservation efforts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Whakatāne Kiwi Trust is a community-led registered charity that protects North Island brown kiwi and other native wildlife in the Whakatāne district of New Zealand through a network of over 90 km of predator trapping lines covering more than 2,000 hectares. It delivers its mission via individual and corporate conservation sponsorship programs, kiwi population monitoring using radio transmitters, school and community education programmes, guided night walks and telemetry tours, and branded merchandise sales, supported by more than 6,000 volunteer hours annually.

Product overview

Whakatāne Kiwi Trust operates as a community-led conservation organization rather than a technology company. Its offerings consist of conservation sponsorship programs (trap sponsorship, hatchery visits, kiwi health checks), educational programs (school field trips and class sponsorship), experiential programs (night walks, telemetry tours, kiwi aversion training), volunteer opportunities, and corporate sponsorship tiers. The organization also sells branded merchandise through its shop and partners on collaborative products like Kiwi Capital Beer. The core conservation work focuses on protecting North Island brown kiwi through pest control, habitat management, and community education in the Whakatāne area of New Zealand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kiwi Capital Beer: A collaborative pale ale created with Mata Beer and artist Sam Poots. 8% of each beer sold supports kiwi conservation efforts.

Products and services

• Trap Sponsorship
• Hatchery Visit Sponsorship
• Kiwi Health Check Sponsorship
• Class Sponsorship
• Education Programme for Schools
• Night Walks
• Bush, Biodiversity and Telemetry Tours
• Kiwi Aversion Training Dog training programme teaching dogs to avoid kiwi in order to minimise the risk of kiwi attacks by dogs in kiwi habitats, with a suggested $10 donation per dog.
• Corporate Sponsorship Packages Five-tiered corporate sponsorship package (Kaka $2K, Miromiro $5K, Toutouwai $10K, Korimako $25K, Kiwi $25K+ minimum 2-year) offering marketing benefits, trap sponsorship, private events, and naming rights for businesses seeking environmental and community engagement credentials.
• Merchandise Shop Branded merchandise range including t-shirts ($28–$45), hoodies ($65), tote bags ($25), caps ($25), beanies ($25), kiwi finger puppets ($12), keyrings, footprint tiles ($15), and photographic books ($20), sold via the Trust's online shop.
• School Holiday Programmes School holiday activity programmes for children focused on conservation and kiwi education, priced at $5–$15 per child depending on the specific programme.

Quantifiable outcome

• Kiwi population grew from 4 adult pairs (1999) to 350+ kiwi (2024)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Mata BeerflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Kiwi Capital Beer collaboration launched April 2024. Mata Beer donates 8% of each beer sold to Whakatāne Kiwi Trust. Partnership extends brand reach and engages new supporter demographics through craft beer community.
• Sam Poots (Artist)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Local artist Sam Poots created original artwork for Kiwi Capital Beer collaboration. Known for unique pointillism style, nationally exhibited works. Provides creative design services and volunteer website creation support.
• Department of Conservation (DOC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Founding project partner in the Whakatāne Kiwi Project alongside Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, and later Whakatāne Kiwi Trust and Whakatāne District Council. DOC provides regulatory support, conservation expertise, and coordination for kiwi management.
• Bay of Plenty Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Founding project partner providing regional council resources, environmental management expertise, and funding support for pest control and conservation programs.
• Te Rūnanga o Ngāti AwacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Cultural partner representing Ngāti Awa iwi, providing mātauranga Māori and cultural guidance for conservation efforts in the Whakatāne area.
• Whakatāne District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Local government partner providing community support, funding, and coordination for kiwi conservation initiatives and public engagement.
• PF Olsen LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForestry company with ongoing partnership providing kiwi management services during forest harvesting operations. Trust volunteers undertake briefings to harvesting crews and monitoring kiwi throughout forestry activity.
• National Kiwi Hatchery (Kiwi Encounter)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer Operation Nest Egg partner in Rotorua for egg incubation and chick rearing. Trust now uses in-situ management but maintains relationship for backup support.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust: Community-led charitable trust operating a 230-hectare pest-free sanctuary in Taranaki using a similar volunteer-and-trap model. Closest direct structural peer — same nonprofit trust model, same reliance on community trapping and donor funding.
• Kiwis for kiwi: National charitable trust dedicated to saving the kiwi, founded in 2000. Direct peer in mission (kiwi conservation), funding model (corporate sponsorships and individual donations), and stakeholder engagement (partnerships with DOC and iwi).
• Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand: New Zealand's largest independent conservation NGO with similar nonprofit structure, volunteer-driven model, and mission spanning native species protection and predator control. Comparable operating model and donor base.
• Project Tongariro: Community-based conservation trust in the Tongariro region working on biodiversity restoration and pest control. Similar small nonprofit trust model, regional scope, and reliance on volunteers and external funding.

Regional players

• Zealandia Ecosanctuary: Wellington-based urban ecosanctuary with a fenced pest-free operation, paid membership model, and education programming. Comparable in terms of community engagement and sanctuary-park operations, though much more developed as a tourism and education venue.
• Cape Sanctuary: Community-led conservation project in the Cape Kidnappers area of Hawke's Bay focused on kiwi protection and habitat restoration. Similar volunteer-driven model and regional scope, but geographically distinct from Whakatāne.

Emerging players

• Predator Free 2050: Government-backed initiative to eliminate invasive predators from New Zealand by 2050. Highly relevant given the Trust's pest control focus, but operates as a coordinating/funding entity rather than a direct on-ground operator like the Trust.
• Trees That Count: Conservation nonprofit that mobilizes individuals and corporates to fund native tree planting. Comparable in operating model (donor + sponsor-driven, NZ-focused) although focused on reforestation rather than direct species protection.

Broad incumbents

• Department of Conservation (Te Papa Atawhai): NZ government agency responsible for conservation that the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust partners with and is partly funded by. Operates nationally across all protected species and reserves, with overlapping mission but much broader mandate.
• WWF-New Zealand: New Zealand arm of the WWF global conservation network. Competes for corporate and individual conservation donors and operates conservation programs that overlap with the Trust's mission, but at a much larger scale and broader species focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/squarespace
• Instagraminstagram.com/whakatanekiwitrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whakat%C4%81nekiwitrust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Whakatāne Kiwi Trust