Two beautiful and feisty kiwi chicks have hatched in Rimutaka Forest Park – the first of the season.

One of the new kiwi chicks born in Rimutaka Forest Park

Melody McLaughlin, Kiwi Project Co-ordinator for the Rimutaka Forest Park Trust reported to us this week that, ‘These two beautiful kiwi are from a breeding pair named Marcel and Hemi. Both Marcel and Hemi were adult birds we transferred from Little Barrier Island back in 2009.’

The successful breeding programme means the Rimutaka Forest Park Trust has recently increased the pest-controlled area for kiwi from 2,800 hectares to 7,000 hectares so that the new birds have plenty of space to set up home and establish their own territory.

The Wellington Community Trust funded transmitters that allow Melody and her team to monitor the progress of the chicks, and also helped with the cost of bringing their parents, Marcel and Hemi to the park from Little Barrier Island.

One of the new chicks was not too keen on posing for a photo

Melody notes that, ‘These beautiful chicks are feisty and snappy and doing all the right things a wild kiwi chick should be doing.’

About Rimutaka Forest Park Trust

Rimutaka Forest Park Charitable Trust is a non-profit organisation committed to protecting and restoring the unique flora and fauna of the Rimutaka Forest Park located east of Wainuiomata, near Wellington, New Zealand.