Fifty more kiwi will make the wilds of Wellington’s south-western hills their new home in May.

The release of kiwi into 20,000+ hectares of predator-free land in the South Coast is exciting. We will soon see more Kiwi, NZ ikonic flightless bird.

13 Kiwi have been released since November 2022– is a partnership between the Capital Kiwi Project and Save the Kiwi’s Kōhanga Kiwi programme, alongside iwi, landowners, community, funders and sanctuaries.

25 new kiwi arrive at Pipitea Marae at dawn on May 9 before being set free into the Mākara hills.

The second group will arrive a week later.

This could bring our Kiwi back into the wild and into our consciousness.

Capital Kiwi twamin Wellington’s south-west hills.

The Kiwi are from the Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari in Pukeatua, south of Hamilton.  Has bred an estimated 2000-2500 birds, says Save the Kiwi executive director Michelle Impey.

“Save the Kiwi through its Kōhanga kaupapa has built a source of kiwi that could be used to create new wild populations.”

Michelle Impey, chief executive of Save the Kiwi, thinks it’s highly likely there will be some whakapapa connections to arriving kiwi.

“The kiwi are robust little creatures . It’s highly likely there will be some local connections.”

The arrival of this second group of kiwi was “a major milestone”, said Holden Hohaia (Taranaki Whānui, Ngāti Maru), Taiao spokesperson for Taranaki Whānui Te Upoko-O-Te-Ika

“It’s an amazing project. [Capital Kiwi] is fortunate to have that land available, and we know they have done some awesome work down there… It ties in nicely with what our aspirations are for kiwi going out to safe places.”

Capital Kiwi project founder Paul Ward with a stoat trap.

250 kiwi will re homed into the Red Rocks to Pirirua area in the south to west of Porirua.