Photo: Bruce and Janine Copeland meet Hinekiuta the kiwi, held by Todd Hamilton, Kiwi Coast
Three young kiwi have been released into native forest behind Langs Beach, marking a milestone for local hapū and community-led conservation.
The kiwi were released at dusk on March 23rd at Te Waorahi, a regenerating native forest once earmarked for housing but now a safe haven for kiwi and other native wildlife. This transformation reflects years of sustained pest control and a strong partnership between the local community and mana whenua.
A haka pōwhiri welcomed the birds to Te Waorahi. The ceremony brought together four hapū—Patuharakeke, Te Uri o Hau, Te Parawhau and Ngāti Hine—and landowners Bruce and Janine Copeland, Piroa Conservation Trust, Kiwi Coast, Northland Regional Council, the Department of Conservation, QEII National Trust, and community members involved in restoration efforts across the area.
The three Northland brown kiwi, gifted by Ngāti Hine, were captured at dawn on the morning of their release from Matakohe–Limestone Island by a team of accredited handlers led by Todd Hamilton from Kiwi Coast. The birds were 2 – 3-year-old juveniles, yet to start breeding, and ready for release back to the mainland. They were met at Onerahi with a whakawaatea led by Te Parawhau kaumātua Fred Tito before travelling on to Te Waorahi.
Ari Carrington of Patuharakeke said the release provided a meaningful opportunity to unite the four hapū and highlighted their collaboration with community conservation organisations working to restore kiwi populations across Te Tai Tokerau.
“Working together to create a safe environment for these kiwi, and welcoming them into our rohe, reflects the strength of our partnerships and our shared commitment to protecting taonga species for future generations,” Ari said.
The three kiwi—two females and one male—were each given names by mana whenua. Patuharakeke named the male ‘Rangiora’, referencing one of their pā in the Takahiwai Hills and reflecting their regard for kiwi as manu rangatira. The two females were named Hinekiuta and Matahīapo by Ngāti Hine and Te Uri o Hau respectively.
Cindy Hempsall, Environs Manager, Te Uri o Hau, said the hapū was proud to introduce Matahīapo, which means ‘a highly prized treasure’. “The name speaks to the value of kiwi as taonga and to the mātauranga that reminds us these manu are not simply wildlife, but living carriers of mauri, identity and ancestral connection,” she said.
During the pōwhiri, Ngāti Hine leader and Northland Regional Council Chair Pita Tipene shared a condensed narrative of his ancestor Moeahu’s rāhui on kiwi in the late 1700s, in which a poacher was captured and killed for breaching the rāhui. “Today,” Mr Tipene said, “the focus has shifted—the animals being removed are ferrets, stoats, weasels and rats. We are proud to support this vital work.”
Landowners Bruce and Janine Copeland described the release of the kiwi as ‘a dream come true’. “This land was originally intended for subdivision and housing. We had the opportunity to change that direction and purchased it to protect the native forest, restore its ecological health, and provide a pathway for mana whenua to reconnect with their whenua,” Mr Copeland said.
“While we occasionally hear kiwi calls, these three new arrivals will strengthen the local population. It makes the past five years of pest control and hard work incredibly rewarding.”
The kiwi release is part of an ongoing effort by Piroa Conservation Trust to restore both the local kiwi population and the wider ecosystem, including native forests, streams and wetlands, Chair Gill Webb said. “We are privileged to receive these kiwi. They are now free to roam the Piroa–Brynderwyn Hills, where extensive pest control efforts remain ongoing. By working alongside dog owners to help keep kiwi safe, we can ensure their calls continue to echo across these hills for generations to come.”
Kiwi Coast will continue to monitor the three birds to ensure they settle well, tracking their movements as they establish territories and eventually seek mates. Kiwi Coast CEO Ngaire Sullivan, who assisted with the event from the early morning captures through to the evening release, expressed confidence in the outcome.
“With 271 community and hapū-led conservation projects connected through the Kiwi Coast network across Northland—covering approximately 302,000 hectares—kiwi are increasingly able to move safely across the landscape. These three birds have simply been given a helping hand. It has been a privilege to work alongside communities and mana whenua on this part of their journey.”
Photo credits, Malcolm Pullman, Kiwi Coast.
