Kiwi Bird Up Close | Rare Wildlife Encounter in the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary

✨ An unforgettable kiwi pukupuku encounter
Sometimes, you just get lucky.
Some of our night tour visitors got the surprise of a lifetime. While admiring the glow worms, the group suddenly heard a male kiwi pukupuku calling nearby. Moments later, one of our visitors felt something gently brushing against her feet.
When the torch came on, there it was — a kiwi pukupuku standing right beside the group.
Even better, someone captured the moment on video.
This curious kiwi wandered off into the ngahere… then strolled back for another look. Encounters like this are incredibly rare, and seeing kiwi confidently exploring the Sanctuary — only months after their arrival in May — is a wonderful sign of how well they’re settling and thriving.
A magical night none of us will forget.
🎟️ Want to experience the ngahere after dark? Join one of our guided night tours.
https://www.brooksanctuary.org.nz/guided-tours
Video credit: Carmeli Bitoin
#kiwiencounter #kiwisighting #BrookSanctuary #kiwipukupuku #LittleSpottedKiwi #AotearoaNature #PredatorFreeNZ #NelsonNZ #NZwildlife #ConservationNZ #Kaitiakitanga #NZnature #NatureLoversNZ #NZbirds #Nzmustdo #OnlyInNZ

🌿📸 Final call for entries! 🌸
There’s still time to enter our Spring Photography Competition — but be quick, entries close 30 November!
The Sanctuary is alive with the sights and sounds of spring: kākāriki flashes in the canopy, tūī among the kōwhai, and tiny fungi emerging along the tracks. Capture what inspires you most about the season and share the beauty of the ngahere through your lens.
🏆 Categories
• Junior Photographer (under 18) → Instant camera + 2x Night Tour tickets
• Adult Amateur Photographer (18+) → 2x Night Tour tickets
✨ Winning images will be featured in our newsletter, on social media, and displayed at the Visitor Centre.
📅 Take your photo at the Sanctuary before 30 November and enter online:
➡️ www.brooksanctuary.org.nz/photography-competition
This photo was taken by Phillipa Orphan for last year’s competition
#BrookPhotoCompSpring #BrookSanctuary #NelsonNZ #NaturePhotography #Ngahere

🌿 Introducing our new Junior Ranger Programme – inspiring the next generation of kaitiaki! 🌿
We’re so excited to launch our Junior Ranger Programme, designed to connect tamariki with nature and inspire lifelong guardianship of Aotearoa’s native wildlife and forests.
Open to children aged five and up, the programme encourages hands-on learning through fun activities and events that build curiosity, care, and respect for the natural world.
Each Junior Ranger receives:
🎒 A welcome pack with an embroidered badge, certificate, stickers, and activity booklet
🌿 Unlimited entry to the Sanctuary for a full year
💌 The Waimārama Chronicles – a quarterly newsletter full of stories, challenges, and conservation tips
Chief executive Chris McCormack says,
“When children spend time in the ngahere, learning about the species that live here and what it takes to protect them, they develop a lifelong sense of care and responsibility. These are the kaitiaki of tomorrow.”
Junior Ranger memberships are $24 per year, with family discounts and gift options available.
👉 Find out more on our website: https://www.brooksanctuary.org.nz//junior-ranger
#NatureLovers #BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #SanctuaryStories #Conservation #NelsonNZ #BrookSanctuary #FamilyFun #juniorranger

Click here to find out more…