Trail camera footage near nests on Waiheke Island shows the first North Island Brown kiwi chick has hatched.
It follows the introduction of 10 kiwi on Te Motu Ārai Roa, the eastern and most isolated side of the island, in May this year.
According to Save the Kiwi, the parents of this chick were already a pair when brought to the island, with landowners, volunteers and Save the Kiwi monitoring their progress.
"This is a huge milestone for the kiwi released earlier this year," says Save the Kiwi dog specialist Emma Craig.
"We're hopeful this one will make it to adulthood - but we always remember that kiwi survival isn't one hundred percent, and losing some individuals is part of the reality of growing a wild kiwi population."
The chick is believed to have hatched sometime in the last couple of weeks.
A transmitter attached to the male kiwi indicates he is still incubating, so it's possible another chick will appear in the coming days.
Kiwi chicks are independent and do not need to be fed by their parents, says Save the Kiwi. At this age their beaks may not be strong enough to dig into the ground so they will forage for insects in the leaf litter.
The trail cam footage shows that the chick has been exploring the area around the nest site.
More adult kiwi will also be translocated from Pōnui Island to Waiheke in early 2026.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
The trail cam footage shows that the chick has been exploring the area around the nest site. Photo: Save the Kiwi
