Rare white kiwi spotted returning to burrow in broad daylight

A rare kiwi with white feathers has been filmed strolling about Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre in the Wairarapa.

In the viral video, captured by one of the wildlife centre’s rangers during the morning feed round, the male kiwi named Mapuna is seen walking through the bush heading back to his burrow.

Rather than blending in with the foliage like a normal kiwi, Mapuna stands out as it struts across the bush.

The rare white kiwi's name Mapuna means “prized” or “precious” in te reo. Photo / Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre

The Department of Conservation (DoC) told the Herald the kiwi is leucistic, which causes birds to have a partial loss of skin pigmentation, resulting in its white feathers.

The condition is often mistaken for albinism, but birds have normal-coloured eyes, said kiwi recovery group lead, Emily King.

DoC doesn’t know the exact number of leucistic kiwi, but King said the white colour morph is uncommon.

White kiwi have also been found on Te Hauturu-o-To, Little Barrier Island and may exist in other places, said King.

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The white bird was born more than 10 years ago, and his name means “prized” or “precious” in te reo.

Mapuna is the brother of another famous white kiwi named Manukura, who gained national attention for its rare colouring when it hatched in 2011, before it died in 2020.

Commenters on the post expressed their amazement at the sighting, as one said, “that’s like a unicorn”.

“A wild marshmallow,” said another.

The Bush Telegraph reported in 2023 that Mapuna was the last known white kiwi in captivity in New Zealand.