It was a great day out for the hundreds of people who took part in the Kiwi Fundraiser held at the Department of Conservation's Kauaeranga Visitor Centre recently.

The event raised a considerable amount of money to help preserve the iconic bird and featured live music, activities for children, picnics on the centre's expansive lawn and gorgeous weather.

Hundreds of people turned up for the Kiwi Fundraiser held at the Department of Conservation's Kauaeranga Visitor Centre recently. Photo: TCDC

The fundraiser was part of DOC's Six Weeks of Summer at the Kauaeranga Visitor Centre programme which will wrap up on January 30.

The programme features a range of events to entertain and educate people on the beautiful native plants and animals which live on the Coromandel Peninsula.

Thames-Coromandel deputy mayor and Kauaeranga Valley local Peter French was on hand to help open last Saturday's event.

He says there was a great crowd for the worthwhile initiative from DOC and the volunteer groups who work so hard to preserve kiwi in the Coromandel for future generations.

During his speech, Peter also described to the crowd how he had trapped a stoat on his property with a DOC 200 trap.

'Stoats are killers,” Peter says. 'Now our ancestors may have brought them here to New Zealand back in the 1880s to control rabbits and hares, but unfortunately they have developed a passion for killing birds like our precious kiwi.

'That's why they are now considered 'public enemy number one' for New Zealand birds.”

Peter says he is 'reliably informed” that predation of young kiwi, chiefly by stoats, is currently the most important factor contributing to the decline of mainland kiwi populations.

This is the reason why Coromandel locals and all Kiwis need to keep the pressure on these destructive predators.

'It's not simply about trapping stoats and other predators by yourself. It's about supporting the kiwi-care groups throughout the Peninsula who do this wonderful work on a regular basis,” says Peter.

DOC ranger Leanne Irvine says the day went very smoothly and the positive feedback had been 'overwhelming”.

She says everyone enjoyed a fantastic day of entertainment while also learning about the unique features of the Kauaeranga Valley and how to support kiwi conservation on the Coromandel Peninsula.

'Thames Coast Kiwi Care raised a good sum with their raffle and gained some new members along with good interest in supporting trap lines and sponsoring birds. The Visitor Centre also collected additional donations from the generous visitors,” says Leanne.

For more information and the full Six Weeks of Summer at the Kauaeranga Visitor Centre programme visit the Department of Conservation's website.