A "significant milestone" has been reached in kiwi conservation following the discovery of two new chicks born in the wild near Wellington.
The Capital Kiwi Project (CK) shared its delight in a social media post, saying these are the first kiwi chicks born in the wild west of Wellington for over 150 years.
CK Operations lead Pete Kirkman made the discovery while monitoring several adult kiwi sitting on eggs, with estimated hatch dates meaning it was possible he would find a single bird in the burrow.
Kirkman was described as "beaming" when he pulled a second bird from deep in the fronds of a mamaku fern.
"Only a quarter of the 63 adult birds are being monitored, so there will likely be other chicks out there on our hills from here onwards," the organisation said.
These two pēpē will be monitored via transmitters, along with the next 18 chicks to hatch.
CK said it will provide an update at the end of the season as it continues its mission to restore large-scale wild kiwi population to Wellington's backyard.
"Thank you to our iwi, landowners and local communities — especially Mākara, who are ground zero as kiwi guardians — and all who have worked together to enable the return of our taonga and icon."
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