The National Kiwi Hatchery is home to the world's leading kiwi hatching and conservation programme. Since 1995, the team has worked alongside conservation partners throughout Aotearoa New Zealand to help protect kiwi populations and give vulnerable chicks the best possible start in life. Having successfully hatched more than 2,600 kiwi chicks, the Hatchery continues to play a vital role in the recovery of one of New Zealand's most iconic and treasured species.
Found nowhere else in the world, kiwi are a unique part of New Zealand’s natural and cultural heritage. However, introduced predators have had a devastating impact on wild kiwi populations, with only around 5% of kiwi chicks surviving to adulthood in the wild.
The National Kiwi Hatchery exists to help reverse this trend through specialist incubation, hatching and chick-rearing programmes. By caring for kiwi during their most vulnerable stages of life and raising chicks to a safer release weight, the programme significantly improves their chances of survival once returned to the wild.
Alongside its conservation work, the Hatchery supports research, training and public education, helping inspire future generations to protect New Zealand’s native wildlife.
Since opening its purpose-built kiwi hatching and rearing facility in 2004, the National Kiwi Hatchery has become the largest kiwi hatching facility in the world.
The programme has:
-Successfully hatched more than 2,600 kiwi chicks
-Helped increase survival rates from approximately 5% in the wild to around 65%
-Supported kiwi recovery programmes across New Zealand
-Educated and inspired visitors from around the world about kiwi conservation
Every chick raised through the programme contributes to the long-term recovery of kiwi populations and helps secure a future for this remarkable species.
TreadRight Foundation has proudly supported the National Kiwi Hatchery through funding that helps advance kiwi conservation efforts and supports the specialist care required during the incubation, hatching and chick-rearing process.
Previous support has contributed to essential equipment used to maintain the wellbeing of kiwi chicks, including incubation and monitoring equipment, while ongoing funding continues to support the Hatchery’s conservation efforts.
Through both financial support and raising awareness among travellers, TreadRight and TTC’s family of brands are helping ensure more people can learn about kiwi conservation and contribute to the protection of New Zealand’s most iconic bird.
