18 years after four kiwi chicks were gifted from Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro to Ngāti Korokī Kahukura to create a founder population of kiwi at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, kiwi have returned to their whenua (homeland). In 2005, Ngāti Hikairo .
More than two years after a stoat incursion put a halt to kiwi being released onto Auckland’s Motutapu Island, this week approximately 25 juvenile kiwi will be released onto the motu, heralding the re-launch of Save the Kiwi’s “To the motu and back” .