Taranaki’s royal chick
A kiwi named by a prince will soon take up residency in the back blocks of East Taranaki.
Tihei, from Purangi, east of Inglewood, was officially named by Prince Harry yesterday when the royal and wife Meghan Markle stopped by The National Kiwi Hatchery based at Rainbow Springs Nature Park in Rotorua.
The little bird was unhatched when it was taken to Rainbow Springs on October 1 along with two other eggs and a newlyhatched chick that were found inside the 13,000 hectare reserve.
Once Tihei, from the Ma¯ori saying ‘‘tihei mauri ora’’, the sneeze of life, has reached one kilogram in weight it will be returned to Purangi.
In the final day of their trip to New Zealand, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent time in Rotorua where they stopped by the kiwi hatchery to learn about a breeding programme and name Tihei and another young kiwi chick, Koha, a te reo Ma¯ori name which translates to gift.
The royal couple, who wed in May and are expecting their first child in the northern spring, have spent five days in New Zealand, as part of their 16-day tour of the South Pacific and Australia.
Hundreds gathered at the park, where the pair arrived not long after 3pm.
Brent Woodhead, of East Taranaki Environment Trust Purangi Kiwi Project, said Tihei and two other eggs and a chick were discovered after the tracking transmitters on two kiwi males failed.
‘‘When male kiwi sitting on eggs or chicks are disturbed there’s a danger they will abandon the burrow. This meant the eggs and chick were taken to Rotorua to be cared for by Rainbow Springs Nature Park.’’