Wendy Bown/Supplied Accredited kiwi handler Cam McInnes shows off kiwi Takoha to the next generation of conservationists at the release at Tahere on Saturday. “Here, kiwis are literally in our backyard, and they’re free to roam,” she said. Kiwi Coast started in 2013 when conservation groups in Whangārei Heads and Tutukaka decided they wanted their kiwi to be interacting. Backyard Kiwi has been successfully increasing Northland brown kiwi numbers in Whangārei Heads – with more than 800 now in the area – but found kiwis were dying as soon as they moved out of the area, Sullivan said. Kiwi Coast brought together like-minded community groups, encouraging them to kill pests like stoats and educate locals to control their dogs.