Kiwi Park reveals the name of rare brown kiwi chick during traditional Māori ceremony

Kiwi Park Queenstown has officially revealed the name of its rare brown kiwi chick, Tuku Iho, during a traditional Māori naming and blessing ceremony held with local iwi.

Born on 26 March 2026, Tuku Iho is one of just two successful brown kiwi chicks hatched through New Zealand's captive breeding programme in the past year, marking an important milestone for the conservation of one of Aotearoa's most iconic species.

The ceremony, held at Kiwi Park on Monday 20 July, celebrated both the chick's conservation significance and the cultural importance of kiwi as a treasured taonga species. Led by local iwi, the blessing welcomed the young kiwi into the world and wished him well on his journey.

The name Tuku Iho, meaning "handed down through generations," was chosen by the Kiwi Park whānau to honour the Park's 40th anniversary in 2026 and the conservation legacy established by founders, and current General Manager Richard’s grandparents, Dick and Noeleen Wilson.

For more than four decades, the Wilson family has championed the protection of New Zealand's native wildlife, with kiwi conservation remaining at the heart of Kiwi Park's mission. Tuku Iho's name reflects that enduring commitment and the responsibility of passing conservation from one generation to the next.

Although officially named Tuku Iho, the young chick has already earned the affectionate nicknames "Tuku" and "Little Man" among the Park's wildlife team.

Visitors to Kiwi Park can now see Tuku in Kiwi House 3, where he has settled into his nocturnal habitat while continuing to grow under the care of the Park's experienced wildlife team.

Todd Jenkinson, Wildlife Curator at Kiwi Park, said:

"Tuku’s arrival is something the entire Kiwi Park team is incredibly proud of. The successful breeding and rearing of a kiwi chick requires a huge amount of dedication, and this result reflects the outstanding care provided by our wildlife team.

What makes Tuku’s story especially significant is that his father successfully incubated the egg right through to hatching before taking on the important role of rearing him. Our team closely monitored both parents and chick throughout the process, ensuring Tuku was meeting all the key developmental milestones and providing support whenever needed. Seeing him grow into a healthy young kiwi has been immensely rewarding.

Tuku also represents something much bigger than a single breeding success. He is part of the ongoing legacy of Kiwi Park’s founders. Every chick hatched and successfully raised at Kiwi Park is a continuation of their vision, and Tuku is a wonderful reminder of the lasting impact Dick and Noleen have had on conservation in Queenstown and beyond."

As Kiwi Park celebrates 40 years of conservation in 2026, Tuku Iho represents not only hope for the future of kiwi, but the generations of people who have dedicated themselves to protecting New Zealand's unique wildlife.

Special thanks to Willie Salomon for blessing Tuku Iho.