The release of little spotted kiwi birds took place in April of 2017. I was honoured to be invited to attend and share the article below to document this time in New Zealand history.
For the first time since the late 19th century, little spotted kiwi birds roam free on New Zealand’s mainland. The celebration and release of twenty kiwi at Shakespear Regional Park was an event more than five years in the making.
It’s a dream made possible by a lot of hard work, planning, and protection by volunteers, park rangers, Auckland Council, the Royal New Zealand Navy, and other benefactors. Shakespear Park is an open sanctuary, protected by a predator-proof fence.
We sat with a small crowd in anticipation of the start of the Powhiri (a traditional Maori welcome ceremony). While we ignored the rain, we were glad to have a seat undercover. A hush fell over the crowd as the NZ nocturnal birds arrived, carried in double crates purpose-built by a team of volunteers that included my husband.
More information about the kiwi release
- After the ceremony, the birds were released in pairs in several locations within the 500 hectares of protected land of Shakespear Regional Park.
- Hiking at night near the waterfall gully, one can sometimes hear the kiwi.
- By bringing male and female kiwi birds from different islands, genetic diversity is ensured.
- Little spotted kiwi are the smallest and second-rarest of the five species of kiwi birds. Kiwis are endemic to the country and are the National bird of New Zealand.
- One of my favourite things said during the speeches, “We have seen lots of damage since the European settlement. Today, we are starting to repair that damage.” Also, something to think about, “We don’t deserve this. We humans are doing a terrible job of protecting our environment.”
- If you want to see kiwi birds foraging around in the scrub, check out the video on this article on Stewart Island.
Places to see kiwi birds in New Zealand
We found 27 places so far, and added them here: Where to See Kiwi in New Zealand: Insider Guide to 27 Spots
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More from Shakespear Park
budget jan
What a wonderful feel good story. They are the cutest things ever! I hope they all survive and breed and that you see them on your walk!
Rhonda Albom
I hope they survive and breed, but I doubt I will ever see them on a walk, as they are nocturnal, so they hide and sleep during the day.
sallie rainville
That’s very exciting! How wonderful to see it happening. It’s great to hear good news about the environment and birds!
To answer your question on FullTime-Life: we heard alligators at Wakodahatchee (mating season) but didn’t see any. But living in SW Florida half the year, we see gators often — once in a while even in our own Canal where we live. I include them in my blog once or twice a year and they always freaks a few readers out. But I’m fond of these prehistoric creatures.
Rhonda Albom
My MIL lives in Delray Beach (small world, I know) and we have been many times Wakodahatchee, but not during the mating season.
indah nuria
Love to see they are really protecting these cute birds! I haven’t seen Kiwi birds for ages..the last time was back in 2005 when I visited NZ..
Rhonda Albom
Did you see them in the wild when you were here? If so, that is a rare treat.
beatravelling
It is actually kinda cute. Never saw one in NZ, but I believe they are hard to spot?
Rhonda Albom
They nest deep in the bush, under scrub, and are very difficult to find. Plus they are nocturnal, so they sleep during the day.
Rob+Ann
It’s so great to see efforts to repopulate native species; particularly something as iconic as Kiwi birds! Given that they’re pretty hard to spot, and we seem to be horrible at spotting wild life, it’s reassuring just knowing there are dedicated people working to ensure they survive. A definite “feel good” story!
Rhonda Albom
It was a “feel good” activity. Such a special and happy moment for New Zealand. I was proud to be there.
David @ Travelsewhere
It’s always great to hear about wildlife conservation efforts such as this, and here’s hoping it’s a massive success. Here’s to repairing the damage done!
Rhonda Albom
Humans have not been kind to this planet.
Photo(Geo)grapher
What amazing birds! Great article as usual
Jessica @ Independent Travel Cats
Yeah for the little kiwi birds! Such a good story to hear and I hope I get to see one someday while in New Zealand!
Rhonda Albom
Sorry, “cats” are banned from the park. Generally, you don’t play nice with these birds :0
Carol Colborn
What an inspiring story. Thanks for sharing. And to think I will be in Auckland the weekend of June 9!
Carol Cameleon
As a New Zealander, it must be a very important occasion. They do look like very fluffy birds and I hope your night event goes well too.
Rhonda Albom
It was a special moment, and I was proud to be there.
Sandy N Vyjay
The Kiwi are indeed such fascinating and intriguing creatures. A great endeavour to release these flightless birds into the protected environment. It must have indeed been a thrilling experience to be part of the ceremony as the Kiwis were released.
Rhonda Albom
They are unique and interesting, and I am glad New Zealand is making every effort to ensure their survival.
Catherine - Red Door Ponderings
Fabulous post!
Brianna Simmons
This story about the kiwi birds warms my heart. I hope they do as well as the wolves that were reintroduced to Yellowstone Park.
Rhonda Albom
I hope they do too. The people involved in the project have certainly gone to every effort to give them the best chance of survival.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
Your hubby is fortunate to be a part of such an incredible project. I associate Kiwi birds so strongly with New Zealand that I assumed that they were prevalent and common. I stand corrected. I hope that these released pairs are able to thrive and survive. #WkendTravelInspiration
Rhonda Albom
They are thriving on some of the smaller islands that are now bird sanctuaries.
Becky
Looks like a cool event and a great idea to reintroduce the kiwi birds! I’ve never seen one, so I wonder what my chances of spotting one are!
Rhonda Albom
Sorry Becky, your chances to see a kiwi in the wild are pretty low. If you are in a kiwi zone at night, your best chance would be to be still, patient, and quiet. They are quite loud when they scamper.
Ruth | Tanama Tales
So nice you have the opportunity to witness this event (and touch the kiwis). It is great when certain species are reintroduced to the places that were once their habits. #TPThursday
Rhonda Albom
We are lucky there are dedicated people who care enough to protect the planet.
Jim ~ Reflections Enroute
This is exciting! I hope the little guys and gals thrive! #wkendtravelinspiration
Rhonda Albom
And I hope they meet up and repopulate the park.
Charles McCool
So nice to see people working to restore natural habitats. The Kiwi birds are cute and all but returning the place to its native setting is important for sustainability.
Rhonda Albom
Agreed. The native setting is returning and now protected.
Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields
I envy you having kiwis so close to home. They must be the world’s cutest bird.
Rhonda Albom
They are excellent hiders and nocturnal, so we may never see them, but it is cool that they are so close.
Buckeroomama
I’ve never seen a live kiwi bird before and didn’t know that they’re flightless. What a wonderful thing to do for them!
Rhonda Albom
They are nocturnal and flightless.
Lisa Ross
Awesome!
Lauren
So me and my friend just died laughing at that last picture because she has a dog named kiwi. I know .. real mature …. Really cool ceremony though! I’ve never seen birds that look like that before!
Rhonda Albom
Glad to bring a smile to your face 🙂
Sally's Tips 4 Trips
Lovely that the birds are now back in their natural habitat. Why were they taken from the mainland?
Rhonda Albom
They were not taken from the mainland, but rather couldn’t survive, mostly due to habitat encroachments. That’s why the predator proof fence needed to be in place and effective for five years before they released the birds.
Lorna
How wonderful that they’ve been reintroduced! I so loved seeing your lovely photos of how it all unfolded, and of course the beautiful kiwi themselves. I’m yet to see one in real life, though I’ve heard their calls a few times. I’m definitely on a mission to see one before I leave New Zealand, preferably in a sanctuary of some sort. 🙂
(Also thanks for the link to travel-related linkups. I’m brand new to them, so it’s great to have so many in one place to check out!)
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Lorna. They are not easy to spot out in the wild, but there are some captive ones that can be seen. If you are passing through Wellington, you can go to Zealandia at night, and their guides often spot them, but no guarantees.
Mary(The World Is A Book)
This is such exciting news! What a great experience to see the birds and be part of such a special ceremony. I would love to see these kiwis one day.
Rhonda Albom
They will be difficult to find in the wild, they are excellent hiders, and next under the scrub. Plus they are nocturnal, so will be asleep during the day.
Leanne
How gorgeous! What a great experience
Rhonda Albom
They are beautiful and fascinating creatures.
Lyndall
How awesome to see these beautiful birds in real life – and watching them released to wander in the park. I’ve seen a kiwi in captivity in NZ, but not one like this. Lovely photos too (as always!). Cheers Rhonda 🙂
Rhonda Albom
We didn’t actually see the release, just the Powhiri before they took the birds up into the bush. Prior to this event I had only seen them behind glass in the dark. This was really exciting.
jo
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a kiwi in real life! What a wonderful project. The little kiwis look quite big – are there bigger species too? Well done to you guys for volunteering on this project, so worthwhile. I hope you get to see the kiwis grow and flourish. #Wkendtravelinspiration
Rhonda Albom
Little spotted kiwi birds are the smallest of the five species of kiwi birds. I really didn’t do much, but I got lucky to be married to a volunteer.
Francesca
Very interesting read! I really knew nothing about Little Spotted Kiwi Birds so in the beginning of the article I was confused by the predator-proof fence. I thought, can’t the birds just fly over the fence?! Then I found out they’re flightless. Whew! I completely agree with the statement, “We humans are doing a terrible job of protecting our environment.” Sadly, it’s true, too, here on the other side of the planet.
Rhonda Albom
I have lived here for so long, I guess I forget that the rest of the world doesn’t know that kiwi birds are flightless. And yes, the mayor was spot on.
Anda
I can’t remember seeing kiwi birds in real life and if I did they were most likely locked in cages at the zoo. You must be very proud of your husband for participating in this ceremony. I’m glad he is not in that picture though because I couldn’t help smiling when I saw the long faces of those volunteers carrying the bird cages. You’ll have to forgive my comparison, but they look so serious, they rather remind of a group of pallbearers carrying a coffin. Joke aside, this is a great moment for the people in New Zealand. These birds are so sweet and I’m sure you are going to see them once in a while.
Rhonda Albom
LOL – I think it is the Moko (Maori tattoo) on his face that gives the appearance of a solemn occasion. Actually, it was festive and welcoming. However, I will admit, when I first looked at my photos I had the same thought. I was just glad the women in the green coat was smiling.
Sabrina
That’s such a cool initiative. It’s a beautiful things when wild animals can be wild.
Rhonda Albom
I completely agree, and I hope it continues nationwide.
June
Such a neat bird. How wonderful that they are back roaming free!
Rhonda Albom
It was a really exciting event.
Jill
What an honor for your husband – and what a cool experience to witness! Thanks for sharing!
Rhonda Albom
I agree on both counts.
Erin Klema | The Epicurean Traveler
When I think of New Zealand, kiwi birds are one of the first things to come to mind. Naturally, I was quite surprised to learn that this was the first time the birds roamed freely on the mainland. This shows that conservation and preservation efforts made to save species like the kiwi birds really do work. In California, the San Diego Zoo has worked to revitalize the California Condor population. I learned about that while in San Diego, then a week later I was driving up the California coast near Big Sur and spotted condors soaring above me. It was an awesome sight to witness! Someday when I visit New Zealand to go wine tasting, I’d love to see some kiwi birds.
Rhonda Albom
This the first time in over 100 years that Little Spotted Kiwis roamed free on the mainland. There are other species of native kiwi birds living in bush around the country, and also others parks that have had releases of other species. How cool that you saw wild condors. That is a sight I would love to see.
Klara S
Wonderful captures. Kiwi feathers look very soft. It’s cute signs: ‘Kiwi Zone. No Dogs.’ Thank you for sharing.
Rhonda Albom
That cute sign is really important. Kiwis are flightless and dogs can be ruthless. They are a huge threat to the defenceless birds.
Julie Kemp Pick
Hi Rhonda, How nice that your hubby volunteers at Shakespear Park, and you were able to capture
such amazing photos of the kiwi birds. They do look soft and cuddly. Even on a rainy day, you make everything look
bright and full of life.
Rhonda Albom
I am so proud of my hubby. He only had a small part in the kiwi release, but he did build some of the boxes they were transported in. And thanks for the compliment.
XmasDolly
Oh wow!!!! What an exciting life you must lead. I’m more excited now that you stopped by to visit me. WOW! Yes, this is exciting to see these birds return home, and you had something to do with it too! WOW! Those are really big birds aren’t they. Those are big enough to be pets too. Can you tell me how intelligent they are??? I mean could you have one as a pet do you think? Wow, and they’re returning home how wonderful is that? What’s more wonderful is that you shared it with us. Thank you so very much for sharing. I’m following all your networks and thanks again for stopping by. I replied to your comment too!
Rhonda Albom
Little spotted kiwi birds are classified as recovering. They are protected and it would be highly illegal to try and keep one as a pet.
Bill
Superb, seems a little like the Red Kites being re-introduced in our area, now not a day goes by when you don’t see them flying around. Those Kiwis look so cuddly
Rhonda Albom
The difference is we will never see the kiwi. They are nocturnal and will nest deep in the bush, away from human traffic.
Sharon
Oh my goodness, these birds are adorable! They look so soft. What a wonderful program this is.
Rhonda Albom
They are super soft. I was surprised, both they let us touch them, and at how soft they are.
Kristin Aquariann
What intriguing birds! That’s awesome your husband volunteered to carry them.
Rhonda Albom
Carrying them was an honour. I was proud that he was asked.
ladyfi
This must have been a lovely sight!
Rhonda Albom
Magical.
L. Diane Wolfe
How wonderful they were able to releases birds back into the wild and you got to be there to participate in the event.
Rhonda Albom
They were always wild. They moved them from some of two of the outer islands back to the mainland, males from one island, females from another.
Carol
They looks so soft and cuddly. Wonderful idea for the open area for them with the protective fence. Looking forward to more photos in the future – your adventures push the boundaries of my world.
Rhonda Albom
They are nocturnal and good at hiding. I don’t think I will ever see them again, even though I will know they are there in the park, just across the bay from my home. I am hoping we will hear them at night.
Sarah Stierch
Wow, this is so cool – and those quotes are true. We are failing the environment, and yes, colonialism is much to blame for environmental damage.
Anyway, great that your husband volunteered, and what an honor to be able to be involved in some way, to see those animals, and observe the ritual of their introduction to the area. I wish them a happy long life (and that you hear them calling when you visit next!) 🙂
Rhonda Albom
I was glad I had paper and pen when the mayor and the others were speaking. And yes, I was very honoured to be there.
kayni
What a wonderful way to give back to Mother Earth! I hope they’ll all flourish. What a positive post to share.
Rhonda Albom
Me too. It would be a shame to move them and not have the population increase overall.
Mick
that would have been a very exciting event to attend. Thanks for sharing. Great photos of the kiwis. (I saw and touched a live kiwi when I was very young in the far north of NZ. )
Rhonda Albom
I was quite surprised by how soft the feathers are. Were you?
artmusedog and carol
Wow! what an event ~ wonderful post and photos to share with us ~ thanks,
Happy Week to you ~ ^_^
Rhonda Albom
The rain and the lighting under the canopies made it a challenging photo shoot.
Marie
What a tremendous project and how exciting to be there.
Rhonda Albom
I felt honoured to be invited.
Barbara Radisavljevic
What an exciting thing to witness and have your family participate in.
Rhonda Albom
Yes, it is very exciting for New Zealand, and for my hubby. The rest of us just watched.
stevebethere
That was interesting great programme loved the photos so clear too what a fab experience 🙂
Have a kiwitastic week Rhonda 🙂
Teresa Kindred
Good for you and your husband! Great program!
Rhonda Albom
He was only a tiny part of this, there are many people who did an enormous amount of work to make this happen.
Sandee
How wonderful. I would have been there if I lived there. How exciting. I’ve never seen on of these birds for real.
Have a fabulous day and week. ☺
Rhonda Albom
It was really exciting, and a long time in the making.
Lexa Cain
What cute little things! How great that 20 of them are now protected. I sure hope they breed and make many more Kiwis!
Rhonda Albom
They were protected before as well, both Kapiti and Tiritiri Matangi are open bird sanctuaries, and well protected.
Stephanie | Adventures in Aussieland
That’s so incredible that you got to be a part of that ceremony. The kiwi birds are so adorable! I bet it was an amazing experience.
Rhonda Albom
I feel pretty lucky to have been there. And yes, the birds are adorable, and the feathers are so soft.
Amy Franks
What an awesome experience. Before i left Mangawhai there were Kiwis in some of the the local native bush parks etc but unfortunately people weren’t so dilligent with their dogs so hopefully these guys stay safe.
Rhonda Albom
There is a preditor-free fence that keeps the domestic animals out.
Donna
I love conservation and breeding programs like this. What an exciting project to be a part of.
Rhonda Albom
It is an exciting programme, that hubby is a part of.
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Hi Rhonda – how brilliant to see this … and how lovely for you to be a part of the start of their new home in Shakespear Park … gorgeous photos – cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
It was hubby who was really a part of it. He is a weekly volunteer at the park and helped build several the boxes that the birds were carried in.