Ten North Island brown kiwi transferred from South Taranaki are the latest addition to a thriving population in the hills of Wellington.
It’s part of Capital Kiwi’s major project to boost kiwi numbers, so that future generations get to experience New Zealand’s national bird.
"We're in the middle of moving 100 birds into the project area on the outskirts of our capital city," Capital Kiwi’s Paul Ward said.
School children, adults and many volunteers came to witness the release in the Makara Hills.
“It’s the first kiwi I’ve ever seen,” one child said.
"The first kiwi release for people is incredible, you can see how people are so, it's emotional for them, they're really touched by it, and it kind of feels like for some people, it's life changing,” Taranaki Kiwi Trust’s Celine Filbee said.
One of the biggest factors to ensure the kiwi survive is the humans living nearby.
"Community engagement is critical, because you have to have by in, there are so many risks and so many threat to kiwi, they're so vulnerable, feral cats, domestic dogs, stoats, ferrets,” Filbee said.
"Get in touch with your local Predator Free group, get involved with Predator Free Wellington, the more people on the ground doing this the better the environment's going to be for our kiwi," Ward said.
Residents have reported hearing kiwi, and even seeing them out and about.
Northland resident Simon Kennett has been volunteering at Mākara Peak for 25 years, planting trees and pest trapping, and now he hears kiwi call.
"It happened way quicker than we thought it would," Kennett said.
"It sends a shiver down your spine to hear a kiwi in Wellington."
Mud Cycles Owner Ross Hubbard said a mountain biker riding at dusk had seen a kiwi running on the trail in front of them.
"The more kiwi we get up there, could be an opportunity for us to do some night riding and take tourists up there, it'd be cool."
Another set of birds will be arriving in May from Mount Maungatautari.
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