South Rodney Trapping Workshop
Discover how you can help safeguard Kiwi and other native species through effective trapping. See trapping techniques in action, hear from expert guest speakers, and get practical advice on getting started. Whether you’re new to trapping or looking to refine your skills please join us.
Kiwi Avoidance Dog Training
A 10 min training session to teach your dog to steer clear of Kiwi.
- Saturday 7th June – Matakana (Venue – TBC)
Register your interest and we will contact you when a training session is scheduled for your area.
Our story
The seed of The Forest Bridge Trust was planted when founders Kevin and Gill Adshead— who reintroduced kiwi to their family farm at Glorit in 2013— discovered that for the new residents to spread their flightless wings and thrive, they would need 10,000 hectares of predator-controlled habitat. This would be a challenge in itself, but they had an even bigger dream that one day, these west coast kiwis could safely roam and eventually meet up with their cousins over in Tāwharanui Regional Park. It was clear, to make the dream a reality, a team was needed to work with farmers and other landowners and the wider community to connect the landscape through fencing and planting and to improve the habitat by controlling pests and predators.
Gill and Kevin sought out other like-minded people with similar aspirations and in 2014 a farmer-initiated environment trust, The Forest Bridge Trust (TFBT) was created. The vision and mission of the trust were developed by farmers, other landowners, and local groups working to protect and enhance the environment where they live. Since those early days it has been recognised that more specialised people and many more resources were needed to turn the dream into reality. From a largely voluntary base of a few people with a big dream, the trust is now a substantially resourced and effective organisation actively achieving the vision of connecting, protecting and enhancing the landscape from coast to coast.
Kia Ora from Ana
For the past five years, our support from Save the Kiwi via DOC Jobs for Nature has been a game-changer for The Forest Bridge Trust... Read more »
In the news
Jobs for Nature Funding is Ending – But Our Mission Continues
Jobs for Nature Funding is EndingBut Our Mission Continues The Next Chapter for The Forest Bridge Trust For the past five years, our support from Save the Kiwi via DOC Jobs for Nature has been a...
Smart Traps, Smarter Conservation: How New Technology is Changing Predator Control
Smart Traps, Smarter ConservationHow New Technology is Changing Predator Control Are smart traps that transmit real-time data the future of predator control? The Forest Bridge Trust recently...
Keeping Kiwi Safe on the Kaipara Coast : A Community Effort
Keeping Kiwi Safe on the Kaipara CoastA Community Effort The rolling farmland and bush-clad hills of the Kaipara region are home to more than just hardworking farmers, landowners, and keen...
Guardians of Dunns Bush: Trappers Protecting Kiwi and native wildlife
Guardians of Dunns BushTrappers Protecting Kiwi and native wildlife The Forest Bridge Trust’s Volunteer Team - Elena Siun, and Paula Griffin - recently hosted an annual catch-up for the dedicated...
Incredible Kiwi Journey: 14km from Mount Tamahunga to Kaipara Flats!
Incredible Kiwi Journey14km from Mount Tamahunga to Kaipara Flats! Remember the mysterious kiwi spotted on a trail camera in Kaipara Flats recently? We’ve finally caught up with him—and he’s a kiwi...
Discover the Journey of Kiwi Conservation Across the Forest Bridge with our interactive Story Map
Step into the story of Kiwi-nui / North Island brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) and their fight for survival. Once thriving, these remarkable birds face challenges that have brought them to the brink of local extinction in the northern Auckland Region (Rodney District, New Zealand).
Through the dedication of The Forest Bridge Trust, and with the vital support of Save the Kiwi, local communities, conservation groups, and individuals, we’re working to protect kiwi-nui and restore their habitats. Together, we’re creating a thriving corridor where kiwi-nui can once again roam freely, bringing their calls back to our backyards.
Discover our Story Map and follow our journey to protect kiwi-nui across The Forest Bridge. Learn about the threats kiwi-nui face and how you can play a crucial role in re-establishing kiwi-nui populations in our region.
Our priority – building a Bridge
Our focus is working to achieve a predator controlled corridor of land from west to east. This is an area of 54,000 hectares connecting the existing wildlife sanctuaries at Mataia Restoration Project in the west to Tawharanui Regional Park in the east.
How we will build the Bridge
Our activities connect the landscape and people in the North Rodney region through focused activities:
Community Liaison
Ecology
Predator Control
Fencing and Riparian Planting
Education
We welcome your help
Your Support makes a big difference
getting involved