New Opening Hours 10 -31 May: The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary

🌿 Behind the Scenes: Bringing Kiwi Home 🐦
On the day of the big release, there was so much more happening than just the kiwi arriving.
From the moment the plane touched down in Nelson with 20 precious passengers onboard, to the slow walk deep into the sanctuary with the sound of waiata drifting through the trees, this was a day woven with care, community, and quiet magic.
Volunteers carried carefully labelled kiwi boxes through the sanctuary. Iwi led the way with song and presence. And at the end of the day, we gathered in the Visitor Centre – tired, moved, and grateful – as iwi closed the ceremony with a final speech.
We also want to say a heartfelt thank you to the local businesses and sponsors who helped keep our volunteers and guests nourished on this very special day:
🥬 The Grocer at Fresh Choice Nelson
🍊 Chia Sisters
🍋 Pete’s Natural
🍎 Connings food market
🥗 Trents Wholesale
🥛 Oaklands milk
🥙 Falafel Gourmet Nelson
Every contribution made a difference — thank you for being part of this historic moment.
📸 Swipe to see some of the behind-the-scenes moments from the day we brought kiwi back to the South Island mainland.