New Zealand’s national bird will share the limelight with visitors at Auckland Zoo’s Kiwi & Kids event on Tuesday 6 February (10am to 2pm) in celebration of Waitangi Day.

The zoo is inviting visitors to mark New Zealand’s national day by learning about how they can personally make a difference towards helping save the kiwi, along with celebrating its uniqueness, and taking part in some fun activities.  The iconic flightless kiwi, which the vast majority of "Kiwi" homo sapiens have never seen in the wild or captivity, was once roaming New Zealand in its millions, but is today sadly an endangered species. Just five percent of chicks hatched in the wild survive to adulthood - mainly due to introduced predators such as stoats and dogs.

A special raffle to raise funds for the Bank of New Zealand's Save the Kiwi's Operation Nest Egg programme will see one lucky family win the exclusive opportunity to go behind the scenes to see kiwi chicks being reared at the Zoo's New Zealand Fauna Conservation Centre. Second prize will see a family win tickets to the Anika Moa Wild Bean Café ZooMusic concert on 24 February (also helping to raise awareness and funds for the kiwi) and Bank of New Zealand  "Kiwi chicks rock" t-shirts. A third prize of t-shirts will also be up to win!

Kiwis big and small can check out the resident kiwi at the Bank of New Zealand Kiwi & Tuatara House, and get along to the Native Fauna Encounter (2.00pm, limited seating) to see a range of native species, including the illusive ratite. A kea encounter will also take place at 1pm (just beside the Kiwi & Tuatara House). In addition, throughout the day there will be great give-aways, face painting, and the chance to meet the Bank of New Zealand’s special kiwi character, “Sniff”.
A highlight of Kiwi and Kids Day will be the launch (at 11.30am) of the new children’s book - Operation Nest Egg: Saving New Zealand’s Kiwi  - all about the Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi's Operation Nest Egg, a programme that nurtures, supports and protects kiwi.  Author of the book, Maria Gill, will be on hand to sign copies.  Throughout the day there will be kiwi-themed games, book and t-shirt spot prizes to be won, and great Kiwi music.  Conservation groups will also have interactive displays at the zoo - to share with visitors, ways that they can help the kiwi.

Auckland Zoo is a partner in Operation Nest Egg, which works to remove kiwi eggs, and chicks, from the dangerous predators that threaten them in the wild.  In special captive facilities (such as Auckland Zoo's) eggs are incubated, and hatched chicks reared before being transferred to "creche" islands free from predators until they are old enough to defend themselves.  Kiwi in the programme are released back into the wild when they reach one kilogram in weight – the size when they can effectively fend off attacks from predators. 

2007 marks the 10-year anniversary of Auckland Zoo’s involvement with Operation Nest Egg.  To date, the zoo has hatched, reared and released 149 kiwi back into the wild, with more releases planned over the coming months.  “Since Operation Nest Egg started in 1994 there have been around 700 kiwi released back into the wild nationwide. It has proved to be a very effective way of boosting a local kiwi population or re-establishing a population where kiwi have disappeared, says the Zoo's New Zealand Fauna team leader, Andrew Nelson. " The zoo works closely with fellow Operation Nest Egg partner, the Department of Conservation, to improve the hatching successes of eggs throughout the different stages of incubation."

Ways New Zealanders can help save our national bird include:
• Keep your dog on a leash at all times when out and about in kiwi areas – a kiwi can be caught and killed in seconds
• Do not let your dog roam free at night
• Never abandon unwanted cats or dogs in the wild
• Report any signs of kiwi in your area to the Department of Conservation
• Make a donation to Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust at any Bank of New Zealand branch or ATM

Kiwi and Kids Day at Auckland Zoo, Tuesday 6 February, 10am to 2pm.  Normal zoo admission prices apply.  For more information visit www.aucklandzoo.co.nz or phone (09) 360 3805.

For further information, please contact
Jane Healy, Comms & PR Co-ordinator. Phone (09) 360-3804 or 027 291 9773
OR  Abi Smith, PR Assistant. Phone (09) 360 4872

ABOUT AUCKLAND ZOO
Auckland Zoo is an enterprise of Auckland City. It is home to the largest collection of native and exotic wildlife species in New Zealand (over 1900 animals and 200 species) and attracts over half a million visitors annually.  It is becoming increasingly well known nationally and internationally through the award-winning television programme, 'The Zoo'. At the heart of all Auckland Zoo's work and activities is its MISSION: "to focus the Zoo’s resources to benefit conservation and provide exciting visitor experiences which inspire and empower people to take positive action for wildlife and the environment". Auckland Zoo is a member of both the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks & Aquaria (ARAZPA) and the World Association of Zoos & Aquariums (WAZA).