Kiwi keeper becomes a Kiwi

Kiwi keeper becomes a Kiwi

Rotorua, 3 September 2015: Rainbow Springs' kiwi keeper Emma Bean is now officially a Kiwi.

Emma has worked at Rainbow Springs' Kiwi Encounter for the last 8 years nurturing kiwi chicks to hatch and caring for them until they're strong enough to be released back to the wild, and has now fittingly become a New Zealand citizen.

"When I arrived in New Zealand I headed to Rotorua to see the kiwi conservation programme at Rainbow Springs, which I'd heard a lot about. Intrigued by the work Kiwi Encounter does looking after kiwi eggs and chicks, I worked for a few months as a volunteer and have been there ever since," Emma says.

Releasing the birds back to the wild once they're strong enough to survive is a highlight for Emma. "This is the reason that we're here – to help them get back to the wild. I've been lucky enough to celebrate our 500th and 1000th kiwi hatches and this season we will celebrate our 1500th. The team I work with at Rainbow Springs have become great friends and we have fun doing this valuable work!"

Emma is excited that she is now a kiwi keeper and a Kiwi. "New Zealand has been home for me for some time now and it feels great to have it made official," she says.

The 2015/16 hatch season is underway and Kiwi Encounter currently has 5 eggs in incubation, the first hatch is estimated to be 12 days away.

Rainbow Springs' involvement in kiwi conservation began in 1995 with the arrival of an orphaned egg and the hatchery has grown over the years to become the largest kiwi hatching facility in New Zealand, successfully incubating and hatching brown kiwi eggs from around the North Island.

To donate, or sponsor a kiwi, visit http://www.rainbowsprings.co.nz/donate

ENDS

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