Protecting our Manuhiri, Kaimahi and Kiwi
Thank you for supporting The National Kiwi Hatchery, where your visit supports the care and protection of our precious kiwi.
We are aware that H5N1 (avian influenza or bird flu) has been confirmed on Aotearoa New Zealand's mainland. The National Kiwi Hatchery remains open and we have a clear biosecurity emergency plan in place to ensure the safety of our manuhiri (visitors), kaimahi (team), and kiwi.
On 15 July 2026, the first confirmed case of bird flu, was detected in Aotearoa. It is an isolated case, and bird flu is not yet widespread in Aotearoa. At The National Kiwi Hatchery, the health and wellbeing of our manuhiri, kaimahi, and kiwi are always our top priority.
Aotearoa is one of the last countries in the world to get bird flu, so we’ve been actively preparing for it and have strong biosecurity measures in place to help protect the animals in our care and ensure the safety of our team and visitors.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) website remains the best place to access accurate and up to date advice on bird flu.
Visiting The National Kiwi Hatchery
To help keep everyone safe following the confirmation of bird flu, we have made some adjustments to your experience to ensure the wellbeing of our kiwi. We request that all manuhiri:
- Do not interact with other bird species prior to the tour
- Ensure that you wear clean clothes
- Follow any guidance from our team during your experience.
If you are doing a Behind the Scenes Exclusive experience, some additional requirements include:
- Sanitise hands when entering the Behind the Scenes areas
- Leave all belongings outside of these areas (safe storage is available)
- Facemasks are available if requested.
During your Behind the Scenes tour, we will discuss the virus and why we are taking these precautions.
These steps help us maintain the highest level of biosecurity for the kiwi in our care, and you can feel confident we are prioritising the safety of our manuhiri, kaimahi and kiwi. Thank you for helping us protect one of Aotearoa's most treasured taonga.
FAQs
How has The National Kiwi Hatchery prepared?
We have been proactively preparing for bird flu. We have a clear biosecurity plan in place, including additional protective measures that will be activated if bird flu continues to spread.
Is it still safe to visit the Hatchery?
Yes, it is still safe to visit the Hatchery. H5N1 bird flu is a low health risk to the public as it rarely affects humans, unless there is direct and close contact with significant numbers of sick birds. We have a clear biosecurity emergency plan in place to ensure the safety of our manuhiri, kaimahi, and kiwi.
Are there any changes to the experience?
At this stage our experiences are running as normal and we're looking forward to welcoming you!
We ask manuhiri to wear clean clothes and not interact with other birds before visiting.
Manuhiri joining us on a Behind the Scenes tour will need to sanitise hands when entering the restricted areas and leave all belongings outside these areas in a safe storage area. Facemasks are available on request, and during the tour we will discuss the virus and why we are taking these precautions.
Please be aware that bird flu is an evolving situation, and our operations may need to change to ensure everyone's safety. If there is a change, we will update this page and contact manuhiri with confirmed bookings as soon as possible.
What can I do to help?
If you notice poultry or domestic birds showing signs of illness, contact your vet for advice. Avoid handling any sick birds. If you see a group of three or more sick or dead wild birds, report this immediately to MPI on 0800 80 99 66. Do not touch or move the birds.
What else can I do?
Stay informed by listening to the media. The MPI website remains the best place to access accurate and up to date advice on bird flu.