Conservation Amplified

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From Endangered to Everywhere: Reimagining Kiwi Conservation (With Michelle Impey)

Callum Armstrong

(Note: you can also listen to this episode on YouTube or Spotify)

What if every New Zealander could encounter a kiwi in the wild?

Michelle Impey, CEO of Save the Kiwi, shares how this innovative organisation is working to make this vision a reality throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

By empowering community-led initiatives, Save the Kiwi supports and amplifies grassroots conservation work. From predator control to responsible pet ownership and leading translocations, they're tackling the challenges facing kiwi on a wide range of fronts.

But it's not just about protecting our national bird. Michelle reveals how their work creates a ripple effect, benefiting a wide range of native species and entire ecosystems as a result.

Join us as we explore Save the Kiwi's ambitious mission to bring kiwi "from endangered to everywhere", and discover how every New Zealander can play a part in weaving conservation into the fabric of our society.

Here are some of the things we discussed:

  • The rapid decline of kiwi numbers since human arrival.

  • How the threat of 95% chick mortality in areas without predator control sparked the National Kiwi Recovery Programme.

  • The evolution of Save the Kiwi from a small initiative to the nationwide driver of kiwi conservation.

  • The rise of community-led kiwi conservation and predator control to help protect our national icon from further decline.

  • The success of kiwi translocations and how they are shaping future approaches.

  • Michelle’s vision for the future of kiwi conservation in Aotearoa New Zealand.

  • And much more...

đź‘©About Michelle:

For more than 18 years, Michelle Impey has been the CEO of Save the Kiwi, an organisation that’s on a mission to reverse the decline of New Zealand’s kiwi populations. Save the Kiwi works alongside iwi, conservation groups, and the Department of Conservation to raise awareness about the plight of the kiwi, how important the species is to New Zealand’s national identity, and what Kiwis can do to help their namesake.

During her 18 years in this role, Michelle has witnessed the explosive growth of iwi- and community-led kiwi conservation initiatives which have in turn created more kiwi-safe habitat all over the country and a greater collective desire for kiwi to return to places where they once thrived. Michelle works tirelessly to ensure kiwi remain at the forefront of New Zealand's consciousness, reminding everyone around her that one person taking small action can lead to monumental change.

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🎙️About the podcast:

The People Helping Nature podcast is brought to you by Conservation Amplified, a registered New Zealand charity that’s on a mission to make biodiversity conservation mainstream.

We do this by bringing a megaphone to the world of conservation by featuring people from all walks of life who are doing interesting and important things to help nature thrive. We aim to make it easy for everyone to learn, understand, take action, and feel like they’re a part of the solution.

Find out more about Conservation Amplified at www.conservationamplified.org.

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