Kiwi Release into Otanewainuku Forest

Rau rangatira mā, e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou.  Kia ora tātou katoa. Distinguished guests, Otanewainuku Tangata Whenua, ladies and gentlemen, I extend warm greetings to you all.

I specifically acknowledge: David Wills, Western Bay of Plenty Kiwi Project Manager— tēnā koe; Peter Crane, Chair of the Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust —tēnā koe; Andrew Baucke, Bay of Plenty Area Manager for the Department of Conservation; Ngāti Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi, Waitaha, Tapuika and Ngāti Whare kaumatua - tēnā koutou.

Thank you for inviting me to this very special occasion to release what I understand is four Kiwi into Otanewainuku Forest here in the Bay of Plenty.

This will be the first occasion as Governor-General that I have released an animal into the wild and, as representative of all New Zealanders, there could be no more appropriate New Zealand native animal to release than a Kiwi!

At the outset may I say that it is great to have the support of Ngai Te Ahi of Ngāti Ranginui, Ngati He of Ngai Te Rangi, Waitaha and Tapuika from this area, and Ngāti Whare from the Whirinaki Forest, in the protection and care of our precious Kiwi.

Māori have long treasured the kiwi and refer to them as ‘te manu huna a Tāne’, the hidden bird of Tāne, god of the forest and Korowai adorned with kiwi feathers are among the most precious of cloaks, taonga, which was usually reserved for chiefs.

The Kiwi bird is our national symbol, and has been since the second half of the 19th century, when it was first used as a trademark – for veterinary medicines, seeds, drugs, varnishes, insurance, on the Auckland University College crest, and on Bank of New Zealand notes.

The kiwi bird began to appear on military badges from as early as 1886 when the South Canterbury Battalion used it. During the First World War, it was then taken up by several regiments. Cartoonists also used the bird during the war to symbolise New Zealand and at the end of that war, New Zealand soldiers carved a giant kiwi on the chalk hills above Sling Camp on Salisbury Plain in England.

After the First World War, the kiwi continued to flourish as an emblem at home. In 1934 the Reserve Bank released the first New Zealand currency which all featured the Kiwi - the two-shilling coin, and the 10-shilling and one-pound notes. And the rest is history!

Today their outline appears on our coins, on our stamps, and on a vast range of New Zealand produced products. New Zealanders call themselves ‘Kiwis’, most proudly when travelling abroad. It is our identity, unique to us, and the bird, unique to our country.

Indeed to some, it may seem a strange animal to choose as a symbol of our country – a nocturnal, flightless bird, with feathers akin to shaggy hair. However the Kiwi is remarkable bird, which will fight fiercely to defend its ground, much like the character of New Zealanders, particularly in the realm of sport! More importantly, the Kiwi bird represents our uniqueness, as a family of more than 4 million, on the international stage.

In the context of my being here today, thank you for giving me the honour of releasing these four Kiwi into this Forest. They will join, I understand, six other Kiwi in making Otanewainuku Forest their home.

May I also thank all of those who have made today possible, and I know there are many who have all played a part in that.

It seems to me that you all protect those things that are important to New Zealanders – our national bird, the Kiwi. On behalf of the Kiwi family, I extend my thanks and praise for your contributions to that end.

It now seems the right time to announce the names I have chosen for two of the Kiwi I will be releasing – they are Lily and Whai.

Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.