Ten kiwi were translocated to Karioi Rāhui from Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari last 12 March 2026. They were released into the care of Ngāti Rangi at Rangataua and the Karioi Rāhui as part of the national kiwi repopulation strategy. Receiving kiwi from Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari advances a key Ngāti Rangi aspiration: that their people celebrate the ancestral practices of their tūpuna, safeguarding the environment as they once did. Karioi Rāhui, the 5,300 hectare ecological project in southern Ruapehu, is jointly managed by Ngāti Rangi and the Department of Conservation (DOC). The project was established in 1997 to prevent the extinction of western brown kiwi in the region and originally aimed to source 60 chicks to rebuild a self-sustaining population. 109 kiwi were released prior to yesterday’s event, but additional genetic diversity was recommended for the resilience of the population. Ngāti Rangi emphasised the significance of the moment for their rohe. “Welcoming these kiwi home to Karioi Rāhui is another important step in the journey to restoring a self-sustaining population,” Pou Ārahi of Ngā Waihua o Paerangi Trust, Helen Leahy, said. “Our whānau and hapū have worked for many years to protect and rebuild the kiwi population here, and the arrival of these taonga from Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari strengthens that work.” 
Will Kahu and Gaia O’Hare (Save the Kiwi). Photo credit: Moana Ellis
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari Tai Urungi (Chief Executive) Helen Hughes said the moment carried deep significance for all involved. “Seeing kiwi from Maungatautari welcomed by Ngāti Rangi was a powerful moment. These birds represent decades of collective effort, and it is a privilege for the sanctuary to support the long-term health of kiwi populations beyond our 47 km fenceline,” Hughes said. Save the Kiwi acknowledged the release as a milestone in collaborative conservation. As co-holders of the Wildlife Authority for the translocation alongside Ngāti Rangi, Save the Kiwi worked closely with partners to support the planning and movement of the birds. “Translocations like these demonstrate what is possible when iwi, community, and conservation organisations work together with a long-term vision,” said Tineke Joustra, Operations Manager and Population Biologist at Save the Kiwi. “Genetic diversity is essential for the resilience of kiwi populations, and the contribution from Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari helps ensure the kiwi population at Karioi Rāhui remains healthy and resilient for generations to come”.
“For Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, gifting kiwi is an expression of our responsibility as kaitiaki of Maungatautari,” says Bodie Taylor (Ngāti Koroki Kahukura) Photo credit: Morgan Cox
Tangata whenua leadership guided the planning and tikanga surrounding the release. As kaitiaki of Maungatautari, mana whenua have been instrumental in the gifting of kiwi from Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, with Ngāti Koroki Kahukura completing the tono process required before the birds could be moved. Ngāti Koroki Kahukura representative Bodie Taylor highlighted the cultural importance of the transfer. “For Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, gifting kiwi is an expression of our responsibility as kaitiaki of Maungatautari. Supporting their journey to Karioi Rāhui acknowledges the shared whakapapa of these landscapes and the collective commitment to ensuring kiwi thrive,” he said.
Gaia releasing a kiwi into its new home. Photo credit: Moana Ellis
The release reflects the shared commitment of iwi, DOC, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, Save the Kiwi, and community and funding partners to the protection and recovery of one of Aotearoa’s most iconic taonga. Monitoring of the newly released birds will continue as they settle into their new home at Karioi Rāhui.
