Attractions Abound
The attractions featured in this weeks Coasters Pass are:
The National Kiwi Centre
www.thenationalkiwicentre.co.nz
Get up close and interactive with living icons of the West Coast. At the National Kiwi Centre you will find Kiwi, Tuatara, Giant Eels, Crayfish and Whitebait. The Centre is situated in the heart of Hokitika and provides the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of New Zealand’s national icons.
Kiwi
The Kiwi is New Zealand’s national icon and part of our world-wide image. New Zealanders have been ‘Kiwis” since the days of the First World-War. It is a nickname bestowed by fellow Australian soldiers using their boot polish that had the image of a Kiwi on the tin – placed there in honour of the makers wife’s homeland and it stuck. Kiwi are a natural fit with New Zealander’s national psyche – we relate to their quirkiness.
The Kiwi is flightless, largely nocturnal and more like a mammal than a bird. Their feathers are hair-like, they have whiskers like a cat and heavy, marrow-filled bones with strong, muscular legs. At the tip of their very long beak are the external nostrils which Kiwi use to find food in the ground. The Kiwi’s large feet have fleshy pads with strong claws, well adapted for digging burrows.
The National Kiwi Centre
At the Kiwi exhibition, you can engage directly with the centre’s wildlife keeper to learn more about these fascinating flightless birds. You can see them up close in their nocturnal home, which is a custom-built replica of their natural environment.
Kiwis are an endangered species found only in New Zealand and the National Kiwi Centre takes great pride in supporting conservation efforts to keep these wonderful birds alive and thriving.
West Coast Kiwi
The populations of Kiwi endemic to the West Coast are among the most critically endangered.
The Rowi Kiwi is found in the Okarito Forest in South Westland. It is distinguished by its greyish colour and often has white patches on its face. Their feathers are soft to touch.
The Haast Tokoeka Kiwi live in the sub-alpine grasslands near Haast and its distinguishing feature include a brown/grey plumage with a reddish tinge.
Also found on the West Coast is the Great Spotted Kiwi. Its habitat spreads from Arthurs Pass through to the Paparoa Ranges and the north Western top of the South Island.
