30 Years of Saving Kiwi
For three decades, the National Kiwi Hatchery has played a vital role in protecting New Zealand Aotearoa’s national taonga, the kiwi. Since welcoming its first chick, Te Aukaha, in 1996, the Hatchery has successfully hatched more than 2,600 kiwi, making it the world’s most successful kiwi conservation centre.
As we celebrate 30 years of conservation leadership, we honour the people, partners and kiwi who have shaped this journey, and we invite everyone to be a part of the next chapter.
The Beginning: A Legacy That Started with a Single Egg
The Hatchery’s story began in 1995, in a small shed at Rainbow Springs, Rotorua, driven by urgent declines in kiwi populations. These early years were small but mighty, beginning with just one egg in Year 1, four viable eggs in Year 2, and eleven viable eggs in Year 3, resulting in a handful of successfully hatched chicks who marked the start of a new era in kiwi protection.
These early chicks marked the beginning of a new era in kiwi protection. What started as a small local initiative soon evolved into a national conservation powerhouse, with over 2,600 kiwi chicks that have been hatched through its programme.
Today, the Hatchery has become a globally recognised leader in kiwi husbandry, egg incubation systems, hatching techniques and chick rearing, helping ensure kiwi can thrive for generations to come.
Why Kiwi Needed Saving
Kiwi were once abundant across Aotearoa, but as introduced predators such as stoats, ferrets, and dogs spread across the landscape, kiwi numbers plummeted. In areas without predator control, kiwi populations still decline by approximately two percent each year. Only around five percent of kiwi chicks born in the wild survive to adulthood.
However, conservation programmes, including Operation Nest Egg, have changed the trajectory for many kiwi. In areas where predator control is in place, kiwi numbers are rising by around two percent annually.
The National Kiwi Hatchery plays an essential role in this recovery, hatching and releasing around one hundred chicks each year into safe, managed environments. Without this mahi (work), experts warn that some kiwi populations could vanish within two generations, making the hatchery’s mission more important than ever.
Conservation in Action: From Egg to Release
Kiwi conservation begins long before a chick hatches. Department of Conservation staff monitor male kiwi, who incubate the eggs in the wild. Once incubation is confirmed, eggs are carefully lifted from burrows and transported in controlled conditions using wool blankets and specially knitted “egg socks”.
When the eggs arrive at the Hatchery, they enter an incubation period of approximately 78 days in purpose-built incubators that mimic natural environments.
As chicks hatch, they are monitored closely by the Hatchery’s experienced team. Their health, weight, and behaviour are checked daily. Their diet is carefully controlled, consisting of including beef heart, mince, fruits, vegetables, soaked cat biscuits and specialised nutrient powders – all measured to ensure perfect nutritional balance.
The chicks remain under close care until they reach the stoat-proof weight of 1kg, when they are then ready to be released back into predator-protected sanctuaries.
The Kiwi Hatchery Experience
The National Kiwi Hatchery is not only a conservation facility, but also an award-winning visitor experience, bringing guests face-to-face with meaningful conservation work.
Visitors are welcomed behind the scenes to witness the hatching process, observe chicks during key development stages, and watch adult kiwi forage in the purpose-built nocturnal house. The experience offers an intimate, educational, and inspiring look into kiwi biology and the science behind species recovery.
Over the years, the hatchery has earned international recognition, including Zoo Aquarium Association Conservation Award in 2021, the 2022 Tourism Industry Aotearoa DOC Conservation Award and consecutive TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards in 2025 and 2026. These accolades reflect the quality of visitor engagement and the depth of expertise behind the programme. Most importantly, every ticket purchased is 100% reinvested into kiwi conservation efforts, ensuring that every visit directly supports the survival of Aotearoa’s national bird.
Building a More Sustainable Future
Over the last 30 years, the Hatchery has evolved from a small shed in Rotorua to a globally recognised conservation facility.
It leads national training in kiwi husbandry and egg candling, supports research into kiwi behaviour and reproductive health, and serves as a respected voice in conservation advocacy.
By protecting kiwi, the Hatchery helps protect entire ecosystems. Predator control, habitat restoration, and community education all create safer environments for native species who share the forest with kiwi
Supported by Ngāi Tahu iwi as partners, the Hatchery’s mahi is grounded in kaitiakitanga – a commitment to guardianship, environmental responsibility, and long-term wellbeing of the natural world. This partnership ensures that kiwi protection remains aligned with cultural values and intergenerational sustainability.
This anniversary is a reminder of what can be achieved through science, cultural partnership and community support. We honour the people, partners, and kiwi who shaped our journey and invite everyone to join us in protecting and celebrating Aotearoa’s treasured taonga. Every visitor, every koha, and every egg hatched contributes to a stronger future for kiwi. With your continued support, the next 30 years can be even more impactful.
Plan Your Visit
The National Kiwi Hatchery warmly welcomes visitors to experience conservation in action and witness the remarkable journey of New Zealand’s national icon.