"Motutapu Island has become a critical element in not only sustaining a species of kiwi (Coromandel Brown kiwi), but in giving us the chance to rebuild the population," manager of the Kiwis for kiwi Ross Haplin said.
Haplin said the trust would use the money from the Auckland Airport grant to help find kiwi on the Coromandel Peninsula.
"Using specially trained dog handlers and dogs, we will locate male kiwi and put transmitters on them. These will be monitored and when we find that they are sitting on eggs we will go and rescue the eggs and take them to incubation facilities. The chicks will ultimately be released onto Motutapu," he said.
When the island cannot house any more kiwi — expected to be about 2025 — due to its limited resources, offspring will be transported back to predator-free areas of the Coromandel Peninsula.
"By doing this we will significantly increase the overall number of Coromandel Brown kiwi, provide a secure secondary population, and pave the way for other native species restoration programmes," Haplin said.
Anna Cassels-Brown, Auckland Airport's general manager of people and safety, said the airport was happy to help an organisation that cared for the national icon.
"Many of the travellers our airport team welcomes to New Zealand over the holiday season are hoping to spot a kiwi.
"So we're pleased to support a charity that's protecting our national bird and helping us all learn more about this taonga," she said.