Kiwi safe haven to host kiwi book launch
On Thursday 7th December, Wellington’s world-first Karori Wildlife Sanctuary will host the launch of leading natural
history writer Neville Peat’s latest book.
Kiwi: The People's Bird tells the story of the nation-wide community efforts to protect this remarkable creature, and
explores its biological oddities and symbolic status. Peat has been following the kiwi's fortunes for twenty years,
working in the field with scientists and writing two previous books on the bird.
With a population of around 100 little spotted kiwi living just minutes from the centre of our capital city, Karori
Wildlife Sanctuary provides one of the best opportunities to experience our national icon it its natural environment.
Being home to such an accessible, well-protected population of kiwi makes the Sanctuary the obvious choice for the
book’s launch. The People’s Bird features the release and progress of the first 20 little spotted kiwi transferred to
the Sanctuary from Kapiti Island in 2000, and the subsequent release of another 20 birds in 2001.
The birds aren’t actively monitored, but call counts and evidence of breeding every year suggest the population probably
exceeds 80 birds now. The Sanctuary is the only place on mainland NZ where this kiwi species can be seen in the wild (it
became extinct on the North Island over 100 years ago).
Nocturnal tours of the Sanctuary provide one of the best opportunities to experience our national icon it its natural
environment, and are a unique addition to the capital’s famous nightlife.
ENDS