Why not do something out of the ordinary this weekend? Visit Rotoroa Island this Saturday 13 January for a chance to see a precious kiwi chick release!
Picturesque Rotoroa Island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf is a predator-free haven for kiwi chicks. This will be their temporary home where they can grow bigger and stronger without the threat of introduced pests like possums, stoats and rats!
This chick has been named Miharo - Māori for surprise - as bird keeper Nat got a big surprise when she collected the egg and found the chick had already started to pip (hatch)! Miharo will be the eighth chick we have released this season with our conservation partners Department of Conservation’s Kiwi Recovery.
Once these chicks have reached the right weight they will return to their wild home in the Coromandel with help from our friends at Thames Coast Kiwi Care.
All kiwi releases are subject to change and we cannot guarantee that visitors will be able to see or touch a kiwi. In the event that a kiwi release does not take place there are many things to see and do on the island! Guided talks start at 11am and are a great chance to take in the spectacular coastline, walk through the native forests and spot several of New Zealand’s endangered species.
We’d like to thank our sponsors at Tip Top Icecream for helping us to grow this Operation Nest Egg (ONE) programme.
Transport to and from the island is available from Fullers / 360 Discovery ferries, visit the Rotoroa Island website to plan your visit.
