Manukura, the only white kiwi bird ever born in captivity, dies in New Zealand after surgery CNN 29th December, 2020 10:55:55 A rare, snow-white kiwi bird that inspired a children's book and was the first of its kind ever hatched in captivity has died in New Zealand after multiple surgeries to remove an unfertilized egg. The kiwi -- named Manukura, which means "of chiefly status" in Māori -- died Sunday, according to a statement from the Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, 78 miles (125 kilometers) from the national capital Wellington. The North Island brown kiwi was hatched at Pūkaha in May 2011, with a rare genetic trait resulting in white feathers instead of the standard brown.