Kiwis are flightless birds, found only in New Zealand. They have poor eyesight but exceptional hearing and smell. They are the only known birds with external nostrils at the end of their long beaks, used to probe the ground to sniff out food and alert them to dangers. They run extremely quickly, covering vast areas and navigating the most difficult terrain with ease. They have razor sharp claws, are strong and can be very territorial and bad tempered.

The kiwi is nocturnal, digging and living in burrows during the day. The Aquarium has reversed day and night in the kiwi enclosure so you can see kiwis foraging for bugs and insects. The habitat is as natural as possible with native plantings and leaf mulch collected regularly from the bush. The food within this enclosure is supplemented with ox heart, rolled oats and special kiwi vitamins.

There are six different species of kiwi: the Brown Kiwi – which has three known varieties, North Island, South Island and Stewart Island; the Little Spotted Kiwi and the Great Spotted Kiwi.

When kiwis mate, it is usually for life. The kiwi has the largest egg to body/weight ratio in the world, with the mature egg averaging 20 percent of the female’s weight, weighing around 450grams. The egg is carried for two to three weeks before being laid, and during the last few days the female will wade in creeks to relieve the weight of the egg. She lays one or two enormous white eggs in late winter or spring, and leaves them for the male to incubate for three months. He takes full care of them, leaving the nest only briefly to feed.

Chicks do not have an egg tooth like other birds, so they must kick themselves out of their shell when they hatch. Chicks do not have down feathers like some other birds, but are covered with soft adult plumage. After 10-12 days the juvenile kiwis leave the burrow alone to hunt for food. They reach adult size in a year and start breeding at about two years of age.

Our kiwi came from the Westshore Wildlife Reserve. Napier has an international reputation for its success of hatching kiwi in captivity. Because they are flightless, kiwis are easy prey for cats, feral pigs, rats, dogs, stoats and possums. These introduced predators, and the clearing of native vegetation, have resulted in the decline of kiwis, which are now an endangered species. About 95% of kiwis hatched in the wild are killed before they reach maturity. It is only through protection schemes, recovery programmes and raising public awareness that this unique bird will

be saved.