Rakiura (Stewart Island) tokoekaPHOTO: Alina Thiebes ©
New Zealanders have been called 'Kiwis' since the nickname was bestowed by Australian soldiers in the First World War. Today a lot of dedicated people help to prevent kiwi from becoming extinct. There are five species of kiwi, all needing our help.
Learn about our unique kiwi, hear their songs, and find ways to help protect this threatened species.
Our overarching goal is to restore the abundance, distribution and genetic diversity of all kiwi species.
Discover videos, read blog posts by DOC staff, and check out the latest news about kiwi and DOC's work with this iconic species.
Brown kiwi live in the North Island. There are four distinct forms, including the Northland brown kiwi.
The giant among kiwi, this species lives only in the top half of the South Island.
The smallest and once the commonest kiwi is vulnerable to stoats at all stages of its life.
Rowi are the rarest of the five species of kiwi. Through predation and habitat loss, these remarkable birds have been reduced to just one natural population.
Tokoeka – literally meaning 'weka with a walking stick' (Ngai Tahu) - has three geographically and genetically distinct forms: Haast, Fiordland, and Rakiura (Stewart Island).