Kiwi Release: 21 December 2024
- Nature & Wildlife
- Family Friendly
Just in time for Christmas, we're welcoming a Coromandel Brown kiwi chick and you’re invited!
WHAT: Welcome a kiwi chick to Rotoroa Island
WHEN: Saturday 21st December at 1:30pm
WHERE: Exhibition Centre (Home Bay), Rotoroa Island
BOOKING: While no booking is required for the release, book your ferry tickets in advance with Explore (Select 21 December 2024)
DAY PLAN
Note there are two ferry departures on this date - you can catch either the 9:30am or 11:30am ferry to experience the kiwi welcome.
9:30am - Explore Ferry departs downtown Auckland
10;45am - Ferry arrives at Rotoroa Island. Time to explore - walking tracks, bird spotting, or check out all things to do on our island sanctuary.
(11:30am - Second ferry departs downtown Auckland, arrives 12:45pm)
1:30pm - Welcome and introduction to kiwi chick (Exhibition Centre)
2pm - Explore at your leisure
3:30pm - Kiosk opens - Perfect time to grab a refreshment or memento and discover the island's history in our small museum.
5:40pm - Ferry departs Rotoroa Island, arriving in Auckland at 6:15pm.
GETTING TO ROTOROA ISLAND
Explore ferry departs Auckland from the Explore Booking Kiosk in Viaduct Harbour to Rotoroa Island. The trip takes about 75 minutes. Find out more about ferry timetable and fares here.
SAVE THE KIWI PROGRAMME
Rotoroa Island is one of a number of predator-free islands in the Hauraki Gulf but is the only one that acts as a creche for North Island Brown kiwi from the Coromandel. Kiwi left in the wild have about a 5% survival rate, so we're part of the national kiwi recovery programme to help give young kiwi chicks the best chance possible. By releasing kiwi chicks to our safe island environment, the survival rate is brought up to 65%.
This opportunity for the public to meet a kiwi in person is an important part of Save the Kiwi programme - it’s a chance to share why kiwi are so vulnerable, the huge effort required to look after our taonga species and how you can help make a difference. The bird’s health is paramount and our kiwi handlers strictly follow procedures set by Save the Kiwi when showing chicks to the public. Each time a chick is welcomed to Rotoroa is a reason to celebrate together because for Coromandel kiwi work much is done by the community, many of whom are volunteers. Being able to give our visitors the opportunity to see chicks recognises the collaborative efforts to reach this milestone but is also a powerful and enduring advocacy opportunity to widen the message about how important continuing to support kiwi conservation is - we hope you can join us!
Rotoroa's kiwi programme is in partnership with Save the Kiwi and the many people in the Coromandel community involved in kiwi conservation; you can learn more about it here.
Meet the kiwi experience is FREE, but usual ferry ticket pricing applies. There are limited seats on the ferry, so get in quick!
LATEST EVENT UPDATES: For latest updates, please visit Rotoroa Island Facebook Page