Trending Now - Kiwi Birds Make Historic Comeback in New Zealand's Capital

WHO:

ABC News - Paul Ward, founder of the Capital Kiwi Project, a charitable trust.

ABC News - Michelle Impey, chief executive of Save the Kiwi.

WHAT:

NBC News - A successful citizen campaign has led to a thriving population of kiwi birds in Wellington.

ABC News - The kiwi, New Zealand’s sacred national bird, vanished from the hills around Wellington more than a century ago.

ABC News - Seven crates containing kiwi were transported to Wellington, including the 250th bird relocated since the Capital Kiwi Project began.

ABC News - There are approximately 70,000 kiwi left across New Zealand, with the population dropping 2% each year.

ABC News - The Wellington kiwi population has a 90% chick survival rate.

WHERE:

NBC News - The hills around Wellington, New Zealand.

ABC News - New Zealand’s Parliament, where the kiwi were celebrated before their relocation.

WHEN:

ABC News - The kiwi were transported late on a Tuesday night.

ABC News - The target to rid New Zealand of introduced predators is set for the year 2050.

WHY:

ABC News - The campaign aims to restore the kiwi population in Wellington as they are a significant part of New Zealanders' identity.

ABC News - The initiative is part of New Zealand’s quest to eliminate introduced predators that threaten native species.

HOW:

ABC News - The Capital Kiwi Project has created a 24,000-hectare tract of land for kiwi to roam, equipped with over 5,000 traps for stoats, the main predator of kiwi chicks.

ABC News - Community groups have mobilized to monitor and protect kiwi populations, with volunteers actively checking for predators in suburbs.

(UPDATED May 1, 2026 23:15 UTC)

A successful citizen campaign has led to the relocation of kiwi birds back to the hills around Wellington, where they had vanished more than a century ago. Recently, seven crates containing kiwi were transported to the area, marking the 250th bird relocated since the launch of the Capital Kiwi Project, which aims to restore the kiwi population as a vital part of New Zealand's identity. With approximately 70,000 kiwi remaining across the country and a goal to eliminate introduced predators by 2050, community groups are actively involved in monitoring and protecting these cherished birds.