The Department of Conservation (DOC) is calling on dog owners and organisations to take urgent action after nine kiwi were killed in Wharengaere Bay, Bay of Islands, since late January, with most deaths linked to dog attacks.
Four of the birds died within just three days in early March, prompting DOC to work closely with conservation groups and local authorities to investigate.
Despite trail-cam footage of roaming dogs and previous complaints, the Far North District Council has struggled to link specific dogs to the attacks.
DOC Bay of Islands operations manager Bronwyn Bauer-Hunt told state-funded media the situation was urgent, urging locals to control their dogs, especially at night.
This is not the first such incident, as a similar spate in 2019 resulted in a rare prosecution. DOC is encouraging anyone with information about uncontrolled dogs to report it immediately to them on 0800 DOC HOT, or to the Far North District Council on 0800 920 029.
seems the dogs got them before the 1080 did.