Kiwi Sponsorship

 

KIWI'S SUPPORTING KIWI'S

As passionate New Zealanders, we have been active supporters of The National Kiwi Hatchery at Rainbow Springs since 2007 - celebrating years of sponsorship!

This opportunity is extended to our clients; for every KDH Home built, new owners receive their very own sponsorship pack. Yes, that's right... we sponsor you a Kiwi chick. How cool is that! You will receive a pack with the name, picture and history information of your Kiwi chick. In additional to this you will also receive free passes to visit the National Kiwi Hatchery in Rotorua, to witness "conservation in action" at NZ's largest Kiwi facility.

Kiwi Encounter at Rainbow Springs released Tahi to the bush and the team at Kiwi Homes celebrated 10 years of sponsorship by joining them.
The KDH team celebrating 10 years of sponsorship by attending the release of Tahi to the bush.

OPERATION NEST EGG

Just a few hundred years ago there were millions of Kiwi living in New Zealand. Today that population is declining so rapidly it is halving in size every 10 years, placing the Kiwi at threat of extinction. The National Kiwi Hatchery have had a long association with Kiwi and have had them as part of captive breeding programs since 1975. In 1995 we became part of the 'Operation Nest Egg' program.


HOW IT WORKS

  • Each egg is transported to The National Kiwi Hatchery by Department of Conservation rangers who monitor egg laying in the wild and retrieve eggs at approximately 40-60 days old.
  • Next each egg is checked for viability and fertility, and then placed in incubation.
  • After hatching the chicks are kept in incubation for up to 48 hours, to help them dry off and to give them time to gain strength to stand.
  • They are then transferred to a brooder where they are introduced to an artificial diet and encouraged to forage for live worms.
  • Once chicks have adapted to the artificial diet they are placed in a purpose designed outdoor enclosure which emulates their natural environment and are monitored carefully.
  • At a weight of 1kg they are then released back into the wild (after completing 30 days of quarantine).

    Our ongoing sponsorship to this program helps enable The National Kiwi Hatchery to continue to do this amazing work in the conservation of our national bird. "KDH GIVING KIWIS A HOME"

    For more information visit www.nationalkiwihatchery.org.nz

    •