Zespri partners with charity dedicated to supporting conservation, biodiversity and New Zealand’s national bird
As part of its continued partnership with Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust, Zespri has named two kiwi chicks, Kobe and Jack.
The names were picked with the help of the public via Facebook and LinkedIn, and Zespri staff. Kobe is named after a port in Japan where Zespri kiwifruit is shipped, while Jack was named after Zespri employee, Jacqueline (Jack) Abbot who passed away in 2018. Abbot was known for her cheeky nature and was a big supporter of the trust.
Zespri has partnered with the Bay of Plenty’s Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust for the past seven years, supporting the trust in its efforts to increase the survival rate of wild kiwi, New Zealand’s national bird. The trust is made up of a group of community volunteers assisting the kiwi population just beyond the kiwifruit heartland of Te Puke. It recovers eggs from the forest, hatches them at the National Kiwi Hatchery in Rotorua, raises them at a crèche until they are less vulnerable and releases them into the pest-controlled area of Ōtanewainuku Forest.
Zespri has named several kiwis over the years. Kobe and Jack will join Toddy, Manawa, Koura, Izzy and Sonny who are all thriving at Ōtanewainuku Forest.
Michael Fox, Zespri head of global public affairs, said it was fantastic to welcome Kobe and Jack to the Zespri whānau.
“We’re really proud to support the Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust which takes amazing care of our native kiwi and help to increase the survival rate of our most precious bird – which is also our fruit’s namesake,” he said.
“Not only does the trust help out our national bird, they also work extremely hard to improve biodiversity in the Ōtanewainuku Forest which is surrounded by kiwifruit orchards in Te Puke in the Bay of Plenty where 80 per cent of New Zealand kiwifruit is grown.”
David Brown of the Ōtanewainuku Kiwi Trust said, “As a volunteer organisation, we rely on the generosity of partners such as Zespri to help fund the latest transmitting gear for kiwi tracking, or helicopters to assist with kiwi recovery and hatching operations at the National Liwi Hatchery. It’s fantastic to have this support and welcome two new Zespri-named kiwi chicks at Ōtanewainuku.”
