Kiwi pukupuku
Little Spotted Kiwi
Apteryx owenii
Their Story
The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary is home to 41 kiwi birds translocated in May 2025 and their new chicks from the current breeding season (not yet counted). They are the smallest of the five kiwi species. Formerly widespread on both main islands, but now mostly confined to offshore islands and mainland sanctuaries. Flightless, with tiny vestigial wings and no tail. Nocturnal, therefore more often heard than seen. Male gives a repeated high-pitched ascending whistle, female gives a slower and lower pitched warbling whistle. Light brownish grey finely mottled or banded horizontally with white, long pale bill, short pale legs, toes and claws.
The best way to get a chance to see a kiwi bird in Nelson is on one of our Night Tours – you’re almost guaranteed to hear them calling to each other and if you’re lucky might catch sight of one foraging in the bush (see the video below of one tour attendee’s exciting discovery!)
Conservation Status
Endemic – Nationally Increasing
Endemic to New Zealand, this smallest of the kiwi species is found mainly on offshore islands (particularly Kapiti Island where the Sanctuary birds were translocated from) and mainland sanctuaries. A small remnant population was discovered in Fiordland in late 2025 with chicks sighted in early 2026.
Population
The population of kiwi pukupuku (little spotted kiwi) is estimated at around 2,000 to 2,100 individuals, primarily living in predator-free sanctuaries like Kapiti Island, with smaller populations on other islands and recent exciting discoveries of a small, breeding mainland population in South Westland. The Sanctuary hosts 41 adult kiwi pukupuku and an as yet uncounted population of chicks from the current breeding season.
Voice
Male gives a high-pitched ascending whistle, female gives a slower and lower pitched ascending trill; both sexes repeat calls 25-35 times per sequence.
Food
Little spotted kiwi eat mostly small invertebrates, especially earthworms; larvae of beetles, cicadas, flies and moths; spiders, adult beetles and some small fallen fruit and leaves.
Kiwi pukupuku are the smallest of New Zealand’s five kiwi species, standing about 25 cm tall and weighing around 1.3 kg. Their soft grey-striped feathers resemble fur, and they have long, pale beaks with nostrils at the tip — giving them an excellent sense of smell. Both sexes look alike, though females are larger with longer bills.
Nocturnal, kiwi pukupuku emerge after dusk to forage for earthworms, beetles, larvae, and other invertebrates. They use their sensitive beaks to probe the soil and leaf litter. Their presence is often revealed by the sound of rustling, loud calls, or footprints left in damp earth.
Kiwi pukupuku form lifelong pairs and defend small territories of a minimum of three hectares. Females lay one to two large eggs per clutch, incubated by the male for 65–75 days. Chicks hatch fully feathered and independent, though they remain near the burrow for several days. The maximum lifespan is uncertain, but kiwi pukupuku can live for 40–50 years.
Once widespread across much of Aotearoa, kiwi pukupuku almost disappeared completely from the mainland by the early 1900s due to predation by stoats, dogs, and cats. They now survive on a handful of predator-free islands and sanctuaries. The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary provides the only secure mainland habitat for them in Te Waka A Māui(the South Island). A small remnant population was discovered in Fiordland in late 2025 with chicks sighted in early 2026.
Classified as Threatened – Nationally Increasing, kiwi pukupuku rely entirely on predator-free refuges. Their slow breeding and ground-nesting habits make them especially vulnerable to introduced mammals. Long-term success depends on maintaining pest-free status of sanctuaries and islands, establishing new populations and the introduction of rare genetics into new populations.
In partnership with Ngāti Toa, Forty-one kiwi pukupuku were released in May 2025, establishing the Sanctuary’s founding population. Their nightly calls are now a treasured part of the Brook soundscape, and lucky visitors can occasionally spot them on guided night tours. With continued pest-free conditions, this population is expected to grow to over 300 birds.
Kiwi pukupuku were the first kiwi species successfully translocated to predator-free islands.
Our other residents
Check out some of the other incredible wildlife that call the Sanctuary home
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Win prizes for your best summer photo at the Sanctuary 📸🏆☀️
This season, we want to see the Sanctuary through your lens — the bright light through the canopy, the textures of the forest floor, and the tiny details that make summer feel alive.
Enter our Summer Photography Competition (part of our Sanctuary Seasons series) and you could win:
🏆 Instant camera (Junior Photography winner)
🌙 Family ticket to a guided night tour
📰 Feature in our newsletter + social media
🖼️ Printed display at the Visitor Centre
📅 Entries close 28 February - Submit your entries via our website: Link in bio
Photo credit: Helen Power - Entry from the spring photography competition
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #SanctuarySeasons #Ngahere #NaturePhotography #NZWildlife #NelsonTasman #VisitNelson #NZHikes #EcoTourismNZ #ConservationStorytelling
Feb 4
Looking for a unique and memorable date night? 🌙🌲
This February, we’re introducing Date Me Darling — private, curated date nights inside the Sanctuary at dusk.
Three styled locations. One couple at a time. You’ll have a styled spot along the main loop track, locally sourced food and drinks, a few games to share, and time to slow down together as the forest shifts into evening.
Beech Glade: for when you want the world to fall away — deeply hidden, totally private, just you and the hush of the forest.
River: crystal clear water, canopy above, flickering lights — the kind of setup you usually only see on Instagram.
Meadow: open sky, long grass, and the forest standing quietly at the edges like it knows not to interrupt.
Bookings are open now (limited spaces in February only so don’t miss out!): Link in bio
#DateMeDarling #NelsonNZ #NelsonTasman #ThingsToDoNelson #DateNightIdeas #NatureLovers #SupportLocalNZ #ConservationNZ #BrookWaimāramaSanctuary
Feb 3
Two cute to be true?
Brook Waimārama Sanctuary and @savethekiwinz teams have been busy over the past few days tracking and recapturing kiwi to remove their transmitters. Thanks to a huge team effort, all ten males were recaptured within just three days.
Some nest burrows held a surprise or two — in several cases a female was present, and a couple even contained chicks. One burrow amazed us all, with not one but two adorable chicks 😍
All chicks are fully independent at this stage of the season, and after quick health checks and transmitter removal, all adult kiwi were safely returned to their burrows.
This special footage was captured by kiwi handler Tamsin from Save the Kiwi, who led the transmitter removal mahi.
We estimate the 20 females and 21 males released in May last year have already produced around 10–15 kiwi pukupuku (little spotted kiwi) chicks in their very first breeding season — a strong sign the habitat is just right.
With transmitters now removed from all ten males, the kiwi are completely free, with no further handling needed. Annual kiwi call counts by staff and volunteers will help track the growing population across our 690 ha, ring-fenced, pest-free sanctuary.
Credit: Video courtesy of Tamsin Ward-Smith, Save the Kiwi
Thanks to our partnership with @terunangaotoa Ngati Toa and Save the Kiwi
#kiwipukupuku #littlespottedkiwi #brookwaimaramasanctuary #nelson #thetopofthesouth #conservation #biodiversity #nativebirds #natureloversnz #newzealandwildlife #pestfree #ringfencedsanctuary #conservationinaction
Jan 29
🎻 45 min string quartet concert at Brook Waimārama Sanctuary
Come and hear a dynamic young string quartet perform a 45 min concert at Brook Waimārama Sanctuary. We welcome everyone to come along, and bring anyone you think might be curious to hear some classical music in a relaxed environment.
The @antipodes.quartet is part of the Fellowship Ensemble Programme, a joint venture between the @adamchambermusicfestival, @newzealandstringquartet and @chambermusicnz, as a career-development experience offered to four of this country’s most promising young string players.
The Antipodes Quartet are Eden Annesley (violin), Mana Waiariki (violin), Tal Amoore (viola) and Lavinnia Rae (cello).
On this occasion, Brook Waimārama Sanctuary are welcoming everyone at local prices: Adult $15, Child $9; Family $35 (on the door)
Find out more: (Link in bio)
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #NelsonNZ #Whakatū #WhatsonNelson #NelsonTasman #LiveMusicNZ #ChamberMusicNZ #StringQuartet #ClassicalMusicNZ #AdamChamberMusicFestival #NewZealandStringQuartet #ChamberMusicNewZealand #FamilyFriendly #NatureAndCulture #SupportLocalArts
Jan 27
2026 Bug of the year is here!
The lesser known cousin to bird of the year has come around(wait till they hear about fish or fungus of the year). This showdown aims to highlight the critters that go underappreciated compared to celebrity species like kākāpō. We would like to highlight the strange and wonderful species that occur within the Sanctuary, with the hopes to earn your vote!
Kahuwai | Black Tunnelweb Spider
Porrhothele antipodiana
I have a mixed history with this incredible spider. One hairy individual decided that my jersey pocket was a great place to set up shop. It received a rude awakening upon the home invasion of my unaware hand. Its brilliant fangs pierced and invenomated my finger, and despite the swelling and the shock and the pain… I couldn’t help but feel bad for evicting the guy. Its hobbit-like hole dwelling nature led the spider to my soft, warm pocket. Ironically, but not surprisingly, this species was the inspiration for Peter Jackson’s ‘Shelob’ in the Lord of the Rings films.
Kahuwai, the black tunnelweb spider, forms dense sheets of silk surrounding their tunnels. These sheets are monitored by the spider, who detects vibrations of a passer by. Wētā, land hoppers and any other unlucky invertebrate. The kahuwai swiftly grabs its prey and drags it into the depths. This spider however is also the victim of the endemic golden hunter wasp, who paralyses the spider before dragging it into the wasp’s nest (talk about shoes on the other foot!) and laying an egg beside it. The spider then becomes baby formula.
Despite the bite, this amazing spider has my vote! Check out the New Zealand Bug Of the Year 2026 website! Voting closes on the 16th of February!
Photo: @henry._.hart (in the second image of Shelob`s lair you can see a giant pill millipede has fallen victim...)
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #BugOfTheYear
Jan 25
2026 Bug of the year is here!
The lesser known cousin to bird of the year has come around(wait till they hear about fish or fungus of the year). This showdown aims to highlight the critters that go underappreciated compared to celebrity species like kākāpō. We would like to highlight the strange and wonderful species that occur within the Sanctuary, with the hopes to earn your vote!
This candidate is the beautifully disguised Rō, the Two-Spined Stick Insect. Micrachus hystriculeus is endemic to central Aotearoa, most common from Nelson, through Marlborough and Wellington. Stick insects display a classic example of crypsis. That is, their behaviour and physiology work in tandem to remain completely undetected and unharmed. They feed on leaves high in the canopy of trees like kānuka. At night you can often spot them, usually with the small males riding on the backs of the much larger females.
All modern New Zealand stick insects are the relatives of two colonisation events from New Caledonia around 30 million years ago. They radiated into nine separate genera and dispersed into coastal, lowland and subalpine ecosystems throughout the motu. This species, alongside at least five other stick insect species, live out their slow and sticky lives within the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary.
Will you vote for Micrachus hystriculeus? Check out the New Zealand Bug Of the Year 2026 website! Voting closes on the 16th of February!
Stay tuned for our last candidate…
Photo: Saryu Mae - @invertebratist
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #BugOfTheYear
Jan 24
