It's not just people having fun in the sun at Ōhope Beach. The area is home to heaps of wildlife, including kiwi, godwits, dolphins and more.
Kiwi
Whakatāne Kiwi Project leads protection and reintroduction of North Island brown kiwi in local reserves. Ōhope Scenic Reserve now has over 300 wild kiwi, and this number is expected to increase.
Kiwi also live in Kohi Point Scenic Reserve and Mokorua Bush Scenic Reserve. Offshore, there are kiwi on Whale Island (Moutohorā).
The wider region has kiwi in Awakeri, Kererutahi, Ōhiwa, Taneatua, Wainui, Waiotahi, Waiotane and beyond.
Because of the risk to kiwi, dogs are not permitted on Ōtarawairere, Nga Tapuwai o Toi, or Fairbrother Loop tracks. In places such as Maraetotara Road, it’s important dogs are kept on a leash at all times or have had kiwi aversion training.
More information about Kiwi in the Whakatāne District »
Godwits, weka and other birds
Godwits, dotterels, oystercatchers, plovers, herons and shags are just some of many bird species found on the harbours and estuaries of the eastern Bay of Plenty.
Ōhiwa Harbour is an internationally important habitat for estuarine, shore and wetland birds. In winter, South Island pied oystercatchers and banded dotterels occupy the harbour. Several hundred young godwits spend winter in Ōhiwa.
The arrival of bar-tailed godwits is celebrated with the annual Birds-a-Plenty Festival in early October.
North Island weka have recolonised the eastern and southern side of Ōhiwa Harbour. If you see a flightless brown bird during the day, it’s a weka not a kiwi!
The booklet ‘Birds of the Eastern Bay of Plenty harbours and estuaries’ includes all the birds you are likely to see in the region. It's available from the Ohiwa Family Holiday Park and the Whakatāne Visitor Centre.
Orca, dolphins, penguins and whales
Orca, dolphins, seals, penguins and whales are sometimes seen in the coastal waters and Ōhiwa Harbour.
Orca may come close to shore in pursuit of stingrays to eat. Pods of orca travel around New Zealand. Orca grow up to nine metres long.
Moko the dolphin spent early 2010 playing with people in Ōtarawairere, West End, and the Whakatāne River. Moko is celebrated by a statue on the bank of the Whakatāne River.
Small whales periodically come into Ōhiwa Harbour. In late 2014, there was a major stranding of pilot whales. Despite the best efforts of Project Jonah, DOC, iwi and the local community, many of the whales did not survive. However, this stranding was unprecedented in living memory.
