There is a heavy penalty for removing the kiwi from its habitat.
Two hunters have admitted breaking the law by taking a kiwi from the wild home with them.
But it appears Blair David Grice, 21, and Kane William Simmiss, 19, may have had good intentions when they breached the Wildlife Act by possessing "absolutely protected wildlife" without legal authority.
The pair claim they wrapped up the kiwi and took it home to safety after they found it under attack from a stoat in bush on the South Island's West Coast.
Both men pleaded guilty to the charges against them in the Whataroa District Court in South Westland yesterday, and will now meet the Department of Conservation to try to make amends before they are sentenced in February.
The maximum fine for the charge is $100,000, plus a further $5000 per animal taken, and/or six months in prison.
The bird the pair came across while hunting in bush north of the Westland National Park was believed to be an Okarito brown kiwi, but it was never confirmed.
Department of Conservation Franz Josef area manager Ian McClure said only about 250 Okarito brown kiwi remained in the wild. He said he was pleased the pair had admitted the charges.
DoC got wind of the young men taking the bird home with them through local rumour, and asked police to investigate.
As a result Grice and Simmiss were charged but the kiwi was never seen by authorities as it had been released after just one night.
The pair could not be reached for comment yesterday, but their lawyer, Olly Peers, told the Herald: "There are extenuating circumstances.
"But it would be inappropriate to comment on these with restorative justice still to be completed as part of the judicial process".
