Kiwi Contact Tours Term4 2025: Inspiring the Next Generation of Conservation Leaders
A couple days old kiwi chick
This year’s Kiwi Contact Tours have been nothing short of magical. Kids Greening Taupō student leaders and students from across the Taupō rohe have a rare opportunity to learn about Aotearoa’s national bird — the kiwi — and discover just how important their voices and actions are in protecting our precious taonga.
A Rare Opportunity to Meet Kiwi Chicks
Ten tours sponsored by Contact Energy brought groups of excited students into the Gallagher Kiwi Burrow at Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary to witness Operation Nest Egg — a programme run by Save the Kiwi with support from the Department of Conservation. Inside the burrow, kiwi keepers Kim, Kelsi, and Helen shared why the kiwi is such a unique and fascinating bird, from its marrow-filled bones to the tiny wings that aren’t designed for flight.
Students had the chance to examine real kiwi eggs and feel the soft, downy feathers of a kiwi. The keepers also showed the tamariki what it takes to raise a chick to stoat-proof weight — the crucial milestone before release back into the wild. They learned how the male kiwi incubates the egg for 75 days, how tracking technology is used, and how even small actions from young people can make a meaningful difference for conservation.
But, as always, the moment that steals the show is seeing a live kiwi chick for the first time. The spontaneous oohs and ahhs say it all — these students leave with minds full of new knowledge and hearts full of inspiration.
Seeing Kiwi Conservation in Action
One of the biggest surprises for many students was learning that only 5% of kiwi chicks survive to adulthood in the wild, mostly because of stoat predation. Understanding this stark reality highlighted why the mahi at the Kiwi Burrow is so critical — and why community education matters.
Some of this year's highlights include:
Kiwi eggs being candled — holding a light to the egg to see the growing chick inside
Baby kiwi only 10 hours old, drying their feathers for the first time
Kiwi ready for transport to other safe sanctuaries sitting quietly in boxes
The moment a tiny kiwi beak broke the membrane for its very first breath
Kiwi chicks practising walking while keepers checked that their legs were strong and straight
Just how stroppy and full of personality a kiwi chick can be (an important survival skill!)
A surprise personal lesson about the significance of the Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary poi from the artist Delaney Brown.
As one student said, “My highlight was watching Kim hold the torch up to the egg and seeing the baby kiwi — we could see the beak and blood vessels!” Another loved “whistling to the kiwi and hearing them whistle back.” And of course, the overall favourite:
“My favourite thing was meeting the kiwi… he was adorable!”
Our Community Supporters
These unforgettable experiences wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our partners:
Save the Kiwi NZ — whose keepers bring science, storytelling, and heart to every tour
Contact Energy — committed to inspiring tomorrow’s conservation leaders
Department of Conservation — supporting the protection of kiwi and other endangered species
Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary — providing a safe haven where kiwi and other rare species such as the takahē can thrive
We’re grateful for every organisation, teacher, chaperone, and student who helped make this year’s programme a success.
Looking Ahead
Chick season always brings excitement — but seeing young leaders experience it firsthand is what makes Kiwi Contact so special. These tours show our tamariki that conservation isn’t something that happens somewhere else, done by someone else. It’s something they can be part of, right now, right here in Taupō.
Together, we can save the kiwi — one inspired young conservationist at a time. 💚
