"I think what we have learnt is that we can work together a little bit closer to support each other, certainly from DoC's perspective because we like to ensure we support sanctuaries to do really good work in conservation."
Concerns were also raised verbally that providing kiwi tours to paying guests took "precedence over other higher priority kiwi management".
It also stated that the "choice of birds used for tours was guided by convenience rather than absolute requirement for a health check, extended time between checks of kiwi and predation of Little Spotted kiwi".
The sanctuary is situated on Cape Kidnappers, on three properties - owned by American billionaire Julian Robertson, Hawke's Bay's Andy Lowe and the Hansen family.
Former sanctuary ecological adviser Dr John McLennan, who has a QSM in recognition of his services to kiwi and the community, said he couldn't comment specifically on what had happened as he left after 10 years of service in 2015.
However, he said, during his time the sanctuary "grew hundreds of chicks for release elsewhere and it provided a spectacular service to kiwi conservation in Hawke's Bay".
He believed this had continued since his departure.
The Kiwi Discovery Walk is not open to the public, but guests at the Farm at Cape Kidnappers hotel can pay another $600 to accompany sanctuary staff carrying out health checks on kiwis - including checking the kiwi's radio transmitters, weighing and measuring the birds to monitor their wellbeing.
McLennan who, along with his wife set them up, said there was a "natural fit" between fulfilling their duties to the birds and allowing guests who expressed an interest in the sanctuary and in particular in seeing kiwi in the wild to join.
"I don't know what caused the deaths of those little spotted kiwi out there. It does seem to be a reasonably high number and I am puzzled by it ... I thought they would have survived quite well but in kiwi conservation occasionally you have a few losses in the context of a large number of wins."
He said about 85 per cent of chicks released back into the wild, once they hit the 800 gram threshold, survived.
"There is a huge amount of conservation work going on out at Cape Sanctuary, involving multiple species and on the whole, the story is one of overwhelming success and gratitude and I don't expect that to change.
"Along the way, there seems to have been some hiccups but every single project has those and it would be a shame in my view if we focused on that and ignored the big picture."
The owners of Cape Sanctuary did not respond to requests for comment.