Hawke's Bay's Cape Sanctuary wildlife restoration project is about to take custody of 20 little spotted kiwi, as part of a complex translocation plan being implemented by the Department of Conservation and Kiwis for kiwi Trust.
Ten male birds from Kapiti Island will be transferred to the 2500-hectare sanctuary this week and they will be joined the following day by 10 female birds from Red Mercury Island off the eastern Coromandel Coast in a bid to establish a new viable population.
Cape Sanctuary owner Andy Lowe said he is thrilled to see this latest translocation to Cape Sanctuary taking place.
"The 11 little spotted kiwi which were transferred to the sanctuary last year have done well and bred this season, indicating that Cape Sanctuary will be a suitable stronghold for this species in the long term."
Mr Lowe said the translocations from safe island environments at Red Mercury and Kapiti to the mainland Hawke's Bay will help the sanctuary achieve its 50-year vision of restoring coastal biodiversity in the region, and provide a new viable population of little spotted kiwi.