{"id":272786,"date":"2026-02-07T20:11:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T20:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/272786\/"},"modified":"2026-02-07T20:11:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T20:11:09","slug":"the-good-life-close-encounters-with-rare-native-wildlife","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/272786\/","title":{"rendered":"The Good Life: Close encounters with rare native wildlife"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n The lovely young woman at the front desk of the P\u016bkaha National Wildlife Centre gave us the breaking news: a kiwi egg was about to hatch. A sizeable crack had appeared in the incubated egg the day before, she said, which meant that after some two months of waiting, the
\n big day was almost here.\n <\/p>\n

In mere hours, indeed perhaps on the very Saturday morning we had chosen to visit P\u016bkaha, the egg\u2019s small occupant would finish the job and emerge, maybe even as we looked on, she said.<\/p>\n

Could we be that lucky? And if we were, would we be able to cope with such a momentous event? There is, after all, only so much excitement Michele and I can handle when we go on one of our rare outings. <\/p>\n

Even the thought of seeing a kiwi hatchling arrive was almost too much excitement to bear. But how could we not want to see such a precious event?<\/p>\n

First established in 1962, P\u016bkaha, about 30 minutes\u2019 drive north of Lush Places, is situated at the edge of almost 1000ha of protected bush. It is not just for visiting. It is a captive breeding facility for several species of endangered native birds.<\/p>\n

We had been to P\u016bkaka only once before, with our late, dear friend Jim, who was an enthusiastic birder and hands-on supporter of both Tiritiri Matangi island sanctuary near Auckland and P\u016bkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre on the Firth of Thames.<\/p>\n

Since our last visit, P\u016bkaha, a registered charity, had itself gone on the endangered list. Last year, its board announced it was heavily in debt and about to go down the gurgler as creditors circled. Fortunately, the Tararua and Masterton councils, Department of Conservation, the community and others rallied to save it.<\/p>\n

On this fine Saturday, with a new kiwi on the way, it seemed unimaginable that such a special place might have gone the way of the huia.<\/p>\n

To get to the kiwi house, we had first to wend our way along the centre\u2019s well-tended tracks through native bush which is alive with birds, including, our map promised us, k\u0101k\u0101, k\u0101k\u0101riki, kerer\u016b, k\u014dkako and korimako, as well as t\u016b\u012b and p\u012bwakawaka.<\/p>\n

We were not to be disappointed, because we took our time. So many visitors we encountered marched quickly past aviaries, making too much noise, seemingly assuming the birds, like a bunch of Instagram influencers, would be waiting to show off.<\/p>\n

We walked slowly and quietly and \u2013 this is my secret tip \u2013 used my phone to play the calls of the birds we were hoping to see. In the space of half an hour, three boisterous k\u0101k\u0101 swooped over our heads, a couple of stout kerer\u016b inspected us from a rimu and we were the subject of considerable interest for several k\u0101k\u0101riki. No k\u014dkako appeared, but for a few minutes we stood transfixed as two saddlebacks, or t\u012beke, gave us a good talking to.<\/p>\n

Is there anything quite as magical for a New Zealander as a close encounter with a rare native bird? It\u2019s like meeting a movie star.<\/p>\n

After we\u2019d inspected a giant w\u0113t\u0101 that is truly giant \u2013 it is 5m long and made of steel, and appeared at the Burning Man festival in California \u2013 we arrived, with our fingers crossed, at the kiwi house.<\/p>\n

After a lucky five minutes watching a four-month-old kiwi named \u201cChilli\u201d digging about in one of the house\u2019s two darkened enclosures, we went for a nosy out the back to find the incubator.<\/p>\n

There was the egg and there was the crack, but there was little sign the great event was imminent. How long should we wait? Should we make a sign to stick to the lab window saying \u201cWelcome!\u201d?<\/p>\n

After long minutes, we decided under the circumstances (rumbling stomachs) that lunch at the centre\u2019s K\u0101k\u0101 Cafe was the best option \u2013 and it was.<\/p>\n

It was in the early hours of the following morning that the hatchling finally emerged, with \u201cbeautiful big bright eyes, perfect wiggly toes and a beak ready to start exploring,\u201d P\u016bkaha announced on social media.<\/p>\n

For reasons I can\u2019t explain, we, too, felt like proud parents. <\/p>\n

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