Dodger

This is the story of Dodger, the first offspring of the first captive breeding pair of kiwi at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Dodger, who appeared on national television, was a kiwi with three names.
He was adopted by children in both the North and South Islands, lived in two reserves in each island, mated successfully with a ‘hard case kiwi, and flew in an aircraft five times. For one of the flights Air Zealand reserved the whole of business class for Dodger and his young companion. He was, indeed, Dodger, the kiwi that flew.
Dodger was reared in captivity under “Operation Headstart” the first Kiwi recovery programme run by the Department of Conservation, the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, and the Bank of New Zealand.
His Parents were two brown kiwi which had been flown down from the North Island.

Author Biography

Pamela Phillips B.A., a journalist and painter, she has written and illustrated “Dodger the kiwi that flew”. Pamela wrote an earlier book about endangered sea turtles, “The Great Ridley Rescue” in Houston, USA while living there with her chemistry professor husband Leon Phillips on sabbatical. She has two sons and four grandchildren.
Pamela did watercolours of the Arts Centre (the historic old University in Christchurch, NZ) to raise money for the University of Canterbury’s scholarship fund. These were also made into place mats, a calendar and cards and limited edition prints. She has also painted New Zealand coastal and lake scenes for place mats commissioned by Jason.