The transfer of kiwi-pukapuka or little spotted Kiwi from Kapiti
Island near Wellington to Fiordland is underway.
It's hoped the move will help create another safe haven for the
birds and help preserve the species in the far south.
It's only been in the last decade that the Department of Conservation has got rid of all the predators on Te Kakahu o Tamatea or Chalky Island and secured it from re-invasion.
It's been over a 100 years since the little spotted kiwi has been seen in these parts.
The 14 Kiwis travelled some 1200 kilometres from Kapiti Island to start a new life in a place where they once lived in their thousands.
Carried in boxes, the Kiwis weigh only about a kilo.
The kiwi-pukapuka are the most vulnerable of all the kiwis and their tiny size means the adults as well as the chicks don't stand a chance against stoats.
The upside is they are good little breeders and will hopefully go forth and multiply.
With 1500 of these birds in existence, they needed another safe haven for the species and the department will bring more of the kiwis on the island early next year.
Hannah Edmonds, a DoC biodiversity ranger, says once the Kiwis are settled on Chalky Island, they can start moving the offspring from the current batch of 14 and move them to other islands.
There are four pairs amongst the 14 bought on Saturday and the breeding season is almost here.
Edmonds reckons they will do brilliantly, just as they did over 100 years ago.
