Kiwi Breeding Centre.
In 1997 the NZCT started construction of a kiwi breeding center and a predator free fenced pre-release area at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve for the rearing of North Island Brown Kiwi.
The original kiwi breeding center was completed in 1998 and was home to many successful breeding sessions of the North Island Brown Kiwi.
In 2005, the Trust was approached by DOC to help with the incubation of the eggs and initial rearing of the chicks for two precious and most endangered species the Okarito Rowi and the Haast Toloeka.
At the time the trusts current breeding facility had only been used for the North Island Brown kiwi. The current facility only consisted of just one small incubation room and a brooder room, it became obvious that it would be necessary to expand the kiwi breeding facility.
With the help of donated material's and paint and some very enthusiastic staff, Trust members and volunteers, the new kiwi breeding facility took on a whole new look.
Extension of the Kiwi Breeding Centre
The incubation area was doubled and the brooder area tripled in size. An additional area was built where the newly hatched chicks are kept in TLC incubators for a few days, as well as another room which is used specifically to clean eggs brought in from the field. The facility is large enough to accommodate up to 100 eggs.
Once we began to receive wild chicks, a separate brooder room with its own kitchen was added. This ensures that there is no cross contamination between chicks from the wild and chicks being hatched in a managed situation.
The numbers of eggs and wild chicks brought to us continued to increase and by the 2010/11 season we received 133 Rowi and 70 Tokoeka eggs. This meant that a total number of 179 Rowi and 85 Tokoeka eggs/chicks had been managed at our facility by the end of 2011.
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Viewing Area
Along side the kiwi breeding center the trust added a public viewing center.
During the breeding season behind thee scenes tours could be book, where you could watch the kiwi team at work looking after our preciouses native kiwis. The kiwi breeding center viewing area was officially opened by the NZCT patron HRH Princess Anne in 2008.
Over the years we have had many fantastic visitors come through the viewing area including a few notable people like Bill English.
Pre-Release Pens
In late 2010 a facility was built at Franz Joseph to accommodate Okarito Rowi and Haast Tokoeka eggs. Retrieved eggs were incubated at the West Coast Wildlife Centre. Once the chicks are three weeks old the Haast Tokoeka chicks are released into the Orokonui Ecosanctuary while the Okarito Rowi chicks are transferred to us. These chicks are placed into large pre-release pens which the trust had build, where the chicks learn to adjust to the outdoor environment. This process is called ‘soft release’ as food is provided and they are carefully monitored.
The chicks stay with us for approximately one month, after which they are transported to predator-free islands. It’s here that the chicks can grow up in a safe environment before being released backs into the wild when they weigh 1.2kg’s.
As of March 2019, a total of 307 Okarito Rowi and 103 Haast Tokoeka have been cared for at the facility, before being released to predator free sites.
None of this amazing work would have happened with out the hard work and incredible support of our funders and volunteers .
In 2019, the New Zealand Conservation Trust transferred the management of the Kiwi Breeding Centre to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. NZCT retains ownership of the facility, while Willowbank continues this valuable mahi to the present day.
