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The 2018 Kiwi Coin continues to celebrate the kiwi as a national icon which represents the uniqueness of New Zealand’s wildlife. The little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii) is the centre of attention in this years issue.
The little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii) is the smallest of the five species of kiwi still roaming around various parts of New Zealand. It is the only species of kiwi to have become completely extinct on the mainland; luckily it is thriving on various islands dotted around New Zealand and is now back on the mainland in some predator-free fenced sanctuaries. Kapiti Island has the largest population of little spotted kiwi, with numbers of around 1200. With the additional numbers from other islands and sanctuaries such as Tiritiri, Red Mercury, Zealandia (Wellington), Chalky and Anchor, the entire population had reached 1700 in 2013.
Little spotted kiwi chicks hatch with a spring in their step. These adventurous youngsters will leave the safety of the nest when they are around a week old to forage for themselves. Luckily, their protective and much larger father is never too far away from the chick for the first 60 days.