Tasti helps kiwi conservation programme

Family-owned Kiwi food company Tasti is set for a record-breaking year of kiwi releases in partnership with the Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust. 94 kiwi chicks are due to be released in 2022 – and now, New Zealanders can join the long-term conservation initiative by purchasing Tasti Nut Bars.

For the first time, 20 cents from every Tasti Nut Bar pack purchased will be donated to the Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust, a conservation organisation founded by Tasti owner Simon Hall over a decade ago.
“Every Kiwi has a part to play in conservation – and the smallest actions can make a big difference. Getting involved in sustainability projects may not be accessible for all New Zealanders, or they may not have the time – so we wanted to give people the option to contribute simply by the choices they make at the supermarket,” says Simon Hall, Tasti owner and founder of the Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust.

Tasti’s commitment to kiwi conservation was borne out of Simon’s desire to protect threatened native species, which led him to purchase Maungataniwha, a remote block in Hawkes Bay comprising 6,120 hectares of native forest that is home to North Island brown kiwi, whio, long and short-tailed bats, kaka, kereru, bush falcon, forest gecko, and several threatened native plants.

With a clear vision and loads of Kiwi can do attitude and DIY, today the Trust comprises six native species regeneration and restoration projects on three properties in the central North Island, one property in the South Island’s Fiordland National Park, and one property on Stewart Island.

To date, the Trust has been primarily funded by Tasti, with upwards of $10m donated over the last 15 years. Conservation efforts are also significantly driven by Tasti’s staff volunteer programme, with more than 100 employees to date donating time to support on-the-ground efforts such as egg collections, tracking kiwi, and predator control for the Maungataniwha Kiwi Project.

“Conservation and protecting our native species is a personal passion of mine, and it’s been incredible to be able to contribute to that through Tasti since 2006,” says Simon.

Known for its naturally nutritious snacks like Tasti Nut Bars, wholefood balls and quality baking products, the team at Tasti want to give New Zealanders the opportunity to contribute to the sustainability initiatives and kiwi breeding programme, which is recognised amongst the most successful in the country.

20 cents from every Tasti Nut Bar pack will be donated to assist with kiwi conservation and restoring the ngahere mauri (forest lifeforce) of New Zealand’s native forests – meaning New Zealanders can enjoy high quality, healthy snacks knowing that they’re contributing to predator control, forest restoration, and species conservation efforts.

“With 94 chicks due to be released this year via the Maungataniwha Kiwi Project in Hawke’s Bay, the additional donations made when customers purchase our delicious Nut Bars will help Tasti grow this important conservation and restoration work in years to come,” says Simon.

As a result of the Trust and Tasti volunteers focusing extra effort on predator control, along with the rainy conditions - which kiwis love – both 2021 and 2022 will be record-breaking years for kiwi release numbers.

In addition to the native species conservation, 4000 ha of the Maungataniwha pine forest has been cleared of regenerating pines and successfully regenerated with native species, as part of NZ's largest native forest regeneration project. The Maungataniwha area is also of national importance geologically as the site where palaeontologist Joan Wiffen first discovered evidence of land-dinosaur fossils in New Zealand.

Tasti Nut Bar packs (RRP $4.29) and other Tasti products are available to purchase at leading supermarkets nationwide, with 20 cents from every Nut Bar pack purchased donated to the Forest Lifeforce Restoration Trust.