THE KIWI HOUSE HISTORY

The Otorohanga Kiwi House & Native Bird Park –
From dream to reality

The Dream: To rescue New Zealand's unique birds and reptiles from the ravages of predators and de-forestation.

The Visionaries: A pharmacist, a bricklayer and a doctor.

The Reality:

• A sanctuary for New Zealand's unique native birds and reptiles, many rarely seen in the wild
• A tourist attraction with educational opportunities for visitors
• A breeding centre undertaking scientific research, sharing knowledge and reintroducing species to the wild.

In 1969 the idea of a Nocturnal House to display live kiwi was born and in February 1971 construction of a purpose-built nocturnal Kiwi House began. It was paid for with donations and foundation membership and built with voluntary labour.

The Kiwi House was a New Zealand first, allowing for the shy nocturnal bird to be viewed throughout the day.

The Otorohanga Kiwi House opened to the public on 17 July 1971.

OTOROHANGA Kiwi House & Native Bird PARK TIME LINE

1969
•	Initial concept for a Nocturnal House to display live Kiwi.
1971
•  •	New Zealand's first Kiwi House open to the public on July 17. First Kiwi egg is laid.
1971-73
•	Pond areas developed, waterfowl introduced, first male Kiwi arrives, plus an extra breeding pair.
1974-75
•	A second nocturnal enclosure is built.
1975
•  •	First 2 Kiwi chicks hatched in January. Construction work on the Australasia's largest Walkthrough Aviary begins in August.
1976
•  •	Great Spotted Kiwi on display for the first time in New Zealand. In August, Dr William Calder III arrived from USA to study Kiwis.
1977
•	First artificially incubated Kiwi egg weighing 326 grams hatched on 10 January. Hatching televised in 48 countries.
1978
•  •  •	Aviary construction completed. 50th Kiwi egg laid. Two Kiwi donated to Frankfurt Zoo.
1979
•  •	Curator from Rotterdam Zoo arrives to collect 2 female Kiwi. NZ Falcon hatched.
1980
•	First mainland colony of captive Tuatara established.
1982
•  •  •	3 Kiwi sent to Brookfield Zoo, Chicago. 3 Kiwi chicks to Osaka Zoo, Japan. 100th Kiwi egg laid.
1984
•  •  •	New Kea Aviary completed. Sonar scan of Tuatara (one was carrying up to 17 eggs). First baby Tuatara found in December.
1985
•  •  •	Kaka Aviary completed January. Artificially incubated Tuatara eggs hatch. Harrier display aviary completed.
1986
•	Large Walkthrough Aviary officially opened May 14 and named the 'Barry Rowe Aviary'.
1987
•  •  •	Birds of Prey complex opened to the public. First Great Spotted Kiwi hatches from incubator. "Adopt a Bird" Programme gets under way.
1988
•  •  •  •	Orange-fronted Parakeets arrive. Cape Barren Geese arrive. North Island Brown Kiwi transferred to Osaka Zoo, Japan. First Little Spotted Kiwi chick hatches naturally in enclosure with parent birds.
1990
•	Second Little Spotted Kiwi hatches successfully.
1992
•	Park celebrates its 21st birthday.
1993
•  •	Pair of Little Spotted Kiwi arrives from Kapiti Island. Third Little Spotted Kiwi hatches successfully
1994
•	Kiwi release programme established at the Mapara Kokako Reserve using captive reared birds.
1996
•	Marlborough Green Geckos arrive at Otorohanga.
1999
•	Kiwi Watch Night Viewing starts in November.
2001
•  •  •	Otorohanga Kiwi House celebrates its 30th anniversary on 14 July. For the first time 2 Northern Brown Kiwi released into a private reserve near Cambridge. Native Fresh water fish exhibit is established at the park.
2002
•  •	A pair of New Zealand Robins released in the Barry Rowe Aviary. New waterfowl aviary constructed.
2005
•  •	First successful hatching of a Variable Oystercatcher in captivity. New Whio (Blue Duck) aviary constructed.
2006
•	New aviaries built for Antipodes Island Parakeets and Campbell Island Teal.
2008
•	Two Otorohanga bred juvenile Kiwi returned to Taranaki for release into the Tarata Marae reserve.
2009
•	Falcon Aviary officially opened by Prime Minister, John Key, on 12 February.

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