Bay of Plenty residents are being reminded about the threat dogs and vehicles pose to New Zealand's national bird after two kiwi were found dead in the same week.

Earlier this month a pathology report of a dead kiwi found by Opotiki residents confirmed a dog attack as the cause of death.

A second kiwi was also found dead in Whakatane after being hit by a motor vehicle.

Department of Conservation Community/Biodiversity Ranger Bridget Palmer says the kiwi population will die out unless positive action is taken to minimise deaths by dogs and motor vehicles.

"The majority of kiwi handed into the Department of Conservation have been killed by dogs.”

'Kiwi are extremely attractive to dogs. They smell really good, they run fast when chased and they can't fly.

'Because kiwi don't have a breastbone, even a playful nudge can kill them," she says.

Bridget says pet dogs also pose a threat to the endangered kiwi.

"Even dogs that are very placid in nature have been known to kill kiwi."

A ceremony was held at Ohope Beach School last year to release two-year-old kiwi Wairere who was found on the side of the road below Kohi Point.

"I knew it was only a matter time before one of our kiwi was hit by a car. I had hoped I would be wrong.

'It would be devastating if all the hard work undertaken during the last 11 years by Whakatane Kiwi Project partners and volunteers was undone because people didn't take the Kiwi Crossing or Kiwi Zone signs seriously," says Bridget.

"You can just hope that these deaths of our endangered national bird will help raise awareness and ensure the survival of other kiwi."

Bridget says kiwi are also vulnerable to motor vehicles as they cross roads to neighbouring habitat.

'People need to understand that kiwi can be half a metre off the track or road sheltering under a bush.”

She says dog owners need to be responsible by keeping their animals on a lead.

'Kiwi have a very strong scent so dogs can find them by day or night and they are defenceless against dogs.”