The Kiwi House Story

The Otorohanga Kiwi House & Native Bird Park – From dream to reality

The Dream:
To rescue New Zealand's unique birds and reptiles from the ravages of predators and de-forestation.

The Visionaries:
A pharmacist, a brick layer and a doctor.

The Reality:

• A sanctuary for New Zealand's unique native birds and reptiles, many rarely seen in the wild
• A tourist attraction with educational opportunities for visitors
• A breeding centre undertaking scientific research, sharing knowledge and reintroducing species to the wild.

In 1969 the idea of a Nocturnal House to display live kiwi was born and in February 1971 construction of a purpose-built nocturnal Kiwi House began. It was paid for with donations and foundation membership and built with voluntary labour.

The Kiwi House was a New Zealand first, allowing for the shy nocturnal bird to be viewed throughout the day.

The Otorohanga Kiwi House opened to the public on 17 July 1971.

Otorohanga Kiwi House & Native Bird Park – Time Line

1969	Initial concept for a Nocturnal House to display live Kiwi
1971	New Zealand's first Kiwi House open to the public on July 17 First Kiwi egg is laid
1971-73	Pond areas developed, waterfowl introduced, first male Kiwi arrives, plus an extra breeding pair
1974-75	A second nocturnal enclosure is built
1975	First 2 Kiwi chicks hatched in January Construction work on the Australasia's largest Walkthrough Aviary begins in August
1976	Great Spotted Kiwi on display for the first time in New Zealand In August, Dr William Calder III arrived from USA to study Kiwis
1977	First artificially incubated Kiwi egg weighing 326 grams hatched on 10 January with the hatching televised in 48 countries
1978	Aviary construction completed 50th Kiwi egg laid Two Kiwi donated to Frankfurt Zoo
1979	Curator from Rotterdam Zoo arrives to collect 2 female Kiwi NZ Falcon hatched
1980	First mainland colony of captive Tuatara established
1982	3 Kiwi sent to Brookfield Zoo, Chicago 3 Kiwi chicks to Osaka Zoo, Japan 100th Kiwi egg laid
1984	New Kea Aviary completed Sonar scan of Tuatara (one was carrying up to 17 eggs) First baby Tuatara found in December
1985	Kaka Aviary completed January Artificially incubated Tuatara eggs hatch Harrier display aviary completed
1986	Large Walkthrough Aviary officially opened May 14 and named the 'Barry Rowe Aviary'
1987	'Birds of Prey' complex opened to the public First Great Spotted Kiwi hatches from incubator "Adopt a Bird" programme gets under way
1988	Orange-fronted Parakeets arrive Cape Barren Geese arrive North Island Brown Kiwi transferred to Osaka Zoo, Japan First Little Spotted Kiwi chick hatches naturally in enclosure with parent birds
1990	Second Little Spotted Kiwi hatches successfully
1992	Park celebrates its 21st birthday
1993	Pair of Little Spotted Kiwi arrives from Kapiti Island Third Little Spotted Kiwi hatches successfully
1994	Kiwi release programme established at the Mapara Kokako Reserve using captive reared birds
1996	Marlborough Green Geckos arrive at Otorohanga
1999	Kiwi Watch Night Viewing starts in November
2001	Otorohanga Kiwi House celebrates its 30th anniversary on 14 July For the first time, two Northern Brown Kiwi released into a private reserve near Cambridge Native Fresh water fish exhibit is established at the park
2002	A pair of New Zealand Robins released in the Barry Rowe Aviary New waterfowl aviary constructed
2005	First successful hatching of a Variable Oystercatcher in captivity New Whio (Blue Duck) aviary constructed
2006	New aviaries built for Antipodes Island Parakeets and Campbell Island Teal
2008	Two Otorohanga bred juvenile Kiwi returned to Taranaki for release into the Tarata Marae reserve
2009	Falcon Aviary officially opened by Prime Minister, John Key, on 12 February
2011	July: The Park celebrates its 40th birthday