Harmony Plan Partnership Highlight: Save the Kiwi

How Comvita Is Helping Preserve New Zealand’s national icon

Aotearoa New Zealand is home to the beloved Kiwi, a symbol of our nation and a unique species found nowhere else in the world. However, these iconic birds are facing significant threats from predators that challenge their very survival. Less than 70,000 Kiwi exist in the wild and it is up to us to ensure the next generation can know and love this taonga species before it's too late.

As we celebrate our native wildlife, it’s also crucial to take action to protect it. That’s where Comvita comes in. Through our partnership with Save the Kiwi, we aim to not just donate money to a worthy cause but actively participate in conservation in our own forests, and we invite you to join us in this vital mission.

The Harmony Plan: A Path to Conservation

At the heart of Comvita’s purpose lies our Harmony Plan, the sustainability framework that informs how we will leave the world a better place. One part of the Harmony Plan is our commitment to donate 1% of our profits every year to communities and nature in need. Since 2021 we have partnered with Save the Kiwi to support their exceptional efforts of kiwi conservation. We envision this relationship to be much like an ecosystem working together to make a healthier, stronger whole. By purchasing Comvita products, you are directly contributing to the conservation of New Zealand’s Kiwi.

Since 1991, Save the Kiwi’s mission is simple yet powerful: to protect and restore Kiwi habitats and ensure these remarkable birds thrive for generations to come. Through our partnership, we support various initiatives that help safeguard this iconic species, including predator management, advocacy, research, kiwi relocation, and egg incubation.

Active Conservation Efforts

Perhaps what we are most proud of is that Comvita’s commitment to conservation goes beyond monetary donations. One of our most significant efforts to date includes predator trapping in the Mānuka forests at our Blue Sky beekeeping site. Since 2019 we have planted over 6.2 million Mānuka trees across the North Island, converting degraded farmland back into thriving native forests. One of these sites is Blue Sky, located deep in the heart of the Central Plateau where we have planted 516.8 hectares of new forest (620,000 manuka trees). Earlier this year, we took the next step to establish a trapline for introduced predators targeting an area of over 1600 hectares.

We want to ensure native species are safe to return to and thrive in these forests by trapping introduced predators like stoats, ferrets, rats, possums, and feral cats that threaten the lives of young Kiwi and other native species. By implementing effective predator control measures, we are creating a safer environment for Kiwis to nest and flourish. Save the Kiwi actively supports our efforts to create a unique and extensive trap network at Blue Sky by providing expertise and training so that we are set up for success. Through our joint conservation initiatives, we’re not only protecting Kiwis but also increasing biodiversity in these precious ecosystems.

Join us! Together, we can create a better world for our native wildlife. By supporting initiatives like Save the Kiwi, we can ensure that future generations will continue to experience the joy of seeing Kiwis in the wild. Let’s unite in our efforts to protect this beloved species and preserve New Zealand’s unique biodiversity.