Rare Kiwi Rediscovered on Mainland New Zealand After 50 Years

A rare and elusive bird species, the little spotted kiwi, has been rediscovered in the wild on mainland New Zealand for the first time in 50 years, sparking excitement among conservationists and local communities.

The discovery was made in the Adams Wilderness Area on the West Coast, where a Department of Conservation (DOC)-contracted tahr hunter spotted the bird in March. DOC biodiversity ranger Iain Graham and his conservation dog, Brew, were flown in to investigate the sighting.

"I heard kiwi calling the first night – two of them duetting – and immediately knew they didn’t sound like other kiwi. It was exciting, but it took a few days to narrow down the area," Graham said.

Graham and Brew are part of DOC’s Conservation Dogs programme, which supports teams to detect protected native species or invasive pests. The search proved to be a challenging and thrilling journey.

"We were in rough terrain, in typical West Coast weather, and I was running out of dry clothes. Brew would find a burrow, but I couldn’t get to the bird. We were so frustratingly close," Graham said. "I was stoked when we finally caught up with the female on our final night, the absolute last chance before getting flown out."

Feathers collected from the bird confirmed it was a kiwi pukupuku – the smallest and one of the most vulnerable kiwi species. They were previously thought to survive only on offshore islands and in predator-free sanctuaries. Around 2000 birds are estimated to remain.

Kara Edwards of Kāti Māhaki ki Makaawhio said the rediscovery was an opportunity to reconnect with a species long thought lost from the region.

"Knowing kiwi pukupuku have survived this whole time in our takiwā is incredible. We are extremely excited and looking forward to working with DOC to secure the future of kiwi pukupuku," Edwards said.

Emily King, leader of the Kiwi Recovery Group, called the find almost miraculous.

"The last known sighting of a kiwi pukupuku on the mainland was in 1978. Despite years of targeted searching, we hadn’t found them – until now. We’re grateful to the hunter for reporting this and capturing evidence. It was like finding a needle in a haystack, but he pointed us to the right patch to start searching. Kiwi pukupuku are one of those unique species which make Aotearoa New Zealand so special. I’m not sure how to express how thrilling this rediscovery is for the conservation world!"

Graham and Brew have since returned and located a male bird. "We’ll wait for genetic analysis to confirm, but the measurements look right for a kiwi pukupuku," Graham said. "We are gathering information so we can work with Kāti Māhaki ki Makaawhio to explore the future protection and management of these birds."

The rediscovery highlights the importance of conservation efforts and the role of local communities in protecting New Zealand’s unique wildlife. As the search continues, conservationists remain hopeful that more kiwi pukupuku will be found and that their survival can be secured for future generations.