What's New
Kokako Tee Shirt
Chalkydigits put their heart into kokako
Kokako Nest Egg receives boost from forestry
Blacktop Construction gives us heaps of help
Kokako Movements
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Kokako Tee Shirt
 Show your support by wearing our attractive kokako tee:
• Colours: dark grey and teal blue
• Sizes: S,M,L,XL
• Cost: $35
To order a tee shirt contact Margaret Horner on 027 285 6356 or email margaret.horner@scionresearch.com
Proceeds go directly into our Kokako Nest Egg.
The tee shirt was funded by PF Olsen Ltd.
Chalkydigits put their heart into kokako
 Chalkydigits www.chalkydigits.co.nz is a creative clothing company based in Christchurch who puts their heart and soul into conservation.
This season, they are getting behind kokako recovery with a quirky idea for fundraising.
Chalkydigits have designed a crafty kokako badge from which all proceeds will go to the Kaharoa Kokako Nest Egg fund.
By wearing your chalkydigits kokako badge everyone will be able to see that your heart beats for kokako too!
Just like the true-blue kokako, though, these badges are strictly limited edition, so get in quick! Head to their website to get your badge or find your closest chalkydigits stockist. Click here to place your order www.chalkydigits.co.nz/shop/help+our+kokako.html
While you are at their website, check out the new seasons range of women’s clothing with its awesome kokako design.
Kokako Nest Egg receives boost from forestry
 The Rotorua-based forest management company, PF Olsen Ltd, has committed to being a major sponsor of the Kaharoa Kokako Trust for the next three years.
This is an important milestone for the Trust as it marks the first sizeable funding contribution from a commercial business. Most of our previous support has come from the Department of Conservation and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, so it is pleasing for us to attract revenue from another source.
PF Olsen’s Chief Executive, Peter Clark says it is fitting for his company to support the protection of this iconic forest bird.
"As a significant land and forest manager throughout New Zealand we have a strong commitment to environmental values. While it is clear that plantation forests provide valuable habitat for many native bird species, that is not the case for the endangered kokako."
"We applaud and admire the work of the volunteers who have put so much effort into predator control to protect the birds at Kaharoa and want to see this put onto a permanently sustainable footing," Mr Clark says.
The funding received from PF Olsen Ltd will go directly into building the ‘Kokako Nest Egg’, an investment fund set up by the Kaharoa Kokako Trust to ensure ongoing pest control in the Kaharoa Conservation Area.
The Kokako Nest Egg fund currently sits at $45,000 with most contributions coming from individuals in the community.
KKT is aiming for a target of $150,000 to ensure that pest control can be sustained in perpetuity at Kaharoa.
"We encourage other private sector firms to help build the Kokako Nest Egg," says Mr Clark.
Click here for the story in Rotorua’s Daily Post on 11 August 2011
Blacktop Construction gives us heaps of help
 Blacktop Construction has made a major contribution towards track improvement in Kaharoa Forest. The access track into the Aislabies block, which has been deteriorating in recent years, has now been upgraded.
The Department of Conservation enlisted a roading contractor to undertake the work and Blacktop Construction kindly donated all the metal required for the project. The gravel they supplied is worth over $5000.
The Trust is thrilled with this donation. The improvements of the road by DOC with the assistance of Blacktop have made access to the forest much easier and safer.
 While the work of species protection and a road construction company may appear very different, Blacktops intentions are focused on assisting with conservation.
Simon Everett CEO for Blacktop Construction says his company values a healthy and sustainable environment.
"We select a number of environmental projects annually to support that contribute towards wider social, economic and conservation goals."
We extend a big thank you to Blacktop Construction and DOC for enabling us to continue our work without getting bogged down.
Kokako Movements
 The Kaharoa Kokako Trust was delighted to see the return of kokako to Otanewainuku in 2010. The Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust translocated two kokako from Kaharoa and eight from Rotoehu Forest. Seven more birds were captured in winter 2011 to meet their target for establishing a viable population.
Mount Otanewainuku is a prominent high point between Rotorua and Tauranga that is clearly visible from Kaharoa. The beautiful old-growth forest on the flanks of this mountain used to be home to kokako until the 1980s when the last remaining birds were taken to Little Barrier Island. Recent pest control efforts by the Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust have made it possible to restore kokako into their forest. As a fellow community group working to protect New Zealand's precious environment, we applaud the Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust for their success with this demanding operation.
Our efforts at Kaharoa over the years have enabled us to grow a healthy population of kokako so it is pleasing that we can contribute to the national kokako recovery effort by supplying birds for other areas. A further two kokako were captured and transferred to Mount Bruce in the Wairarapa this Spring where they will help to bolster an existing population.
Following the translocation to Secretary Island last Spring these operations are exciting new initiatives.
The Kaharoa Kokako Trust is pleased to be in the position to contribute surplus birds to the national kokako recovery effort.
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