The North Island brown kiwi is one of New Zealand’s most iconic and vulnerable species, deeply connected to the country’s forests and cultural identity. In Kaweka Forest Park, a diverse landscape of beech forest, mānuka and kānuka scrub, and alpine tussock, kiwi once thrived. However, by the early 2000s, their numbers had fallen to around 200 birds, largely due to predation and environmental pressures.
In response, the Environment, Conservation and Outdoor Education Trust (ECOED) launched the Save Our Kaweka Kiwi (SOKK) project. Their mission is to restore a healthy, self-sustaining kiwi population while using conservation as a tool for education and wider ecosystem recovery.
SOKK’s approach is hands-on and highly targeted. Adult male kiwi are fitted with transmitters, allowing conservationists to monitor nesting activity. When chicks hatch, they are carefully removed after around ten days and taken to a protected crèche at Lake Opouahi Scenic Reserve, where they can grow safely away from predators. Once they reach a strong, survivable weight, they are returned to the forest. Adult kiwi also receive regular health checks, while young birds are closely monitored as they mature.
Alongside this work, SOKK continues to innovate through improved tracking technology, better methods of attaching transmitters, and more effective predator control strategies. The project also contributes to scientific research by collecting genetic samples and refining kiwi care in managed environments.
Through this dedicated effort, kiwi populations in Kaweka Forest Park are steadily recovering. Supporting SOKK helps protect not just kiwi, but the wider ecosystem they depend on, ensuring these remarkable birds remain a part of New Zealand’s landscape for generations to come.
We donate 10% of profits from Kiwis socks
Our Philosophy
Restoring the biodiversity of our planet and its varied species is at the core of Bare Kind’s mission. By donating 10% of gross profits to charities that support the animals on our socks, we can continue fighting the fight against species extinction.
Bare Kind has been able to achieve an all-time high of donations in recent years. The business expanded its sock range to 40+ pairs and supports 35+ charities.
Our Charity Impact Reports highlight the projects we have been able to fund with our charity partners and the incredible animals we support.
Our hope is that something as humble as a pair of socks can make a lasting impression on our world and change it for the better. A huge thank you goes out to all our customers who have wanted to make a difference and empower the restoration of our planet with their socks.
