Capture and Release of the Whitehead at Mataia.

Unlike the kiwi release, these birds cannot be easily viewed up close. Instead, the entire process will be documented, from capture and banding, to the farewell by the gifting iwi, Ngāti Manuhiri, and the welcome by the receiving iwi, Ngāti Whātua, through to the release itself.

This footage will be shared at a community celebration, and we warmly invite you to join us for this special occasion.

Where: Te Aroha Pā Marae, 2558 Kaipara Coast Highway, Arapārera
When: 3.00 – 5.00pm, on a day between Monday 4 May – Friday 8 May 2026

To honour tikanga, the event will be held on the day the first group of birds is released. As bird capture is weather-dependent, the exact date will be confirmed closer to the time.

Please RSVP to kgadshead@xtra.co.nz so we can keep you updated with further details and confirm the event date.

We look forward to sharing this milestone with you.

Gill and Kevin Adshead, and the Mataia Restoration Project team.

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