Last Thursday the first ten of up to 40 kiwi from Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari were released into the care of Ngāti Rangi at Rangataua and the Karioi Rāhui as part of the national kiwi repopulation strategy. Receiving kiwi from Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari advances a key Ngāti Rangi aspiration: that their people celebrate the ancestral practices of their tūpuna, safeguarding the environment as they once did.

Karioi Rāhui is a 5,300-hectare ecological project in southern Ruapehu, jointly managed by Ngāti Rangi and the Department of Conservation (DOC). Established in 1997 to prevent the extinction of western brown kiwi in the region, the project originally aimed to source 60 chicks to rebuild a self-sustaining population. With 109 kiwi released prior to last Thursday’s event, the arrival of birds from Maungatautari represents a significant milestone in the long-term recovery of the species at Karioi Rāhui.

The translocation marked the first time kiwi from Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari have been welcomed to the site. The ten birds released last week will contribute important genetic diversity to the existing population, supporting its long-term resilience across the central North Island.

Ngāti Rangi emphasised the significance of the moment for their rohe. “Welcoming these kiwi home to Karioi Rāhui is another important step in the journey to restoring a self-sustaining population,” Pou Ārahi of Ngā Waihua o Paerangi Trust, Helen Leahy, said. “Our whānau and hapū have worked for many years to protect and rebuild the kiwi population here, and the arrival of these taonga from Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari strengthens that work.”

Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari Tai Urungi (Chief Executive) Helen Hughes said the moment carried deep significance for all involved. “Seeing kiwi from Maungatautari welcomed by Ngāti Rangi was a powerful moment. These birds represent decades of collective effort, and it is a privilege for the sanctuary to support the long-term health of kiwi populations beyond our 47 km fenceline,” Hughes said.

Save the Kiwi acknowledged the release as a milestone in collaborative conservation. As co-holders of the Wildlife Authority for the translocation alongside Ngāti Rangi, Save the Kiwi worked closely with partners to support the planning and movement of the birds.

“Translocations like these demonstrate what is possible when iwi, community, and conservation organisations work together with a long-term vision,” said Tineke Joustra, Operations Manager and Population Biologist at Save the Kiwi. “Genetic diversity is essential for the resilience of kiwi populations, and the contribution from Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari helps ensure the kiwi population at Karioi Rāhui remains healthy and resilient for generations to come.”

Tangata whenua leadership guided the planning and tikanga surrounding the release. As kaitiaki of Maungatautari, mana whenua have been instrumental in the gifting of kiwi from Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, with Ngāti Koroki Kahukura completing the tono process required before the birds could be moved. Ngāti Koroki Kahukura representative Bodie Taylor highlighted the cultural importance of the transfer. “For Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, gifting kiwi is an expression of our responsibility as kaitiaki of Maungatautari. Supporting their journey to Karioi Rāhui acknowledges the shared whakapapa of these landscapes and the collective commitment to ensuring kiwi thrive,” he said.

The release reflects the shared commitment of iwi, DOC, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, Save the Kiwi, and community and funding partners to the protection and recovery of one of Aotearoa’s most iconic taonga. Monitoring of the newly released birds will continue as they settle in at Karioi Rāhui.

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