Aotearoa’s national Kiwi hatchery just moved into a new location and celebrations kicked off with a brand new chick!
Te Ngākau is the name of the country’s newest Kiwi bird. It’s from the Maungataniwha Forest in Hawkes Bay and has a dad called ‘Fossil’.
If you’re keen to meet Te Ngākau and some other Kiwis, the national hatchery opened its doors to the public today and they are really keen to show off their new crib.
It’s at Rotorua’s Agrodome and is custom-built to support kiwi kaitiakitanga, be environmentally sustainable and have a big outdoor area where native plants will grow.
The new crib. Credit: The National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa
Facilitating the move from Rainbow Springs was Ngāi Tahu Tourism and descendants of Tura Ngāti Te Ngākau. Geoff Rice, the iwi’s chairman, says ensuring the Kiwi survives is a massive goal for them.
“The Whare Kiwi, named Huruhuru after one of our tūpuna, sits between two historical Tura Ngāti Te Ngākau pā sites, Pātirakaraka to the North, and Hongohongo to the South.”
“This whenua has nurtured us for many generations, we tautoko the development of the Whare Kiwi as a pā harakeke for generations of kiwi, and Aotearoa our kiwi nation. We acknowledge the commitment of Ngāi Tahu and this project.”
Emma Beam, the hatchery’s manager, said the new spot will be so good for the future of our national bird.
"With the ongoing support of Mercury and Ngāi Tahu Tourism, this relocation will allow us to power up our vital work in preserving our national manu (bird). The kiwi is a protected species and the population needs a little added support sometimes, ensuring its numbers flourish well into the future.”
“And it’s with great pride we continue to undertake this important mahi and that we can now put it on a larger stage for domestic and international manuhiri (visitors) to see, learn and take part in.”
The National Kiwi Hatchery’s new facilities are already open to the public, so if you wanna see how our bird is thriving, check it out.
