Pu¯kaha mourns loss of precious white kiwi
Born different from a rare genetic trait, Manukura was loved by many
Manukura, the first ever pure white kiwi hatched into captivity anywhere in the world, died on Sunday, December 27. She was a beloved friend and taonga (treasure) to hundreds of thousands of guests that visited the wildlife centre throughout her nine and a half year lifetime.
Her popularity with the public spawned a Facebook page, soft toys, children’s books and other memorabilia in her likeness.
Hatched on May 1, 2011, the North Island Brown Kiwi should have been brown, but was instead born with white feathers due to an extremely rare genetic trait carried by both parents.
Pu¯kaha staff at the time had no idea of her colouring until she hatched. Her arrival was hailed as a huge blessing by Ma¯ori and local iwi Rangita¯ne o Wairarapa who saw her as a unifying symbol and a signal to help guide their future relationship with Pu¯kaha. They consider her a taonga and tribal elders bestowed her with the Ma¯ori name; Manukura, meaning “of chiefly status”.
Manukura was the first of three white kiwi that went on to be hatched at Pu¯kaha over the course of the 2011-2012 breeding seasons. While white kiwi can exist in the wild, they are considered so rare that for most people, seeing one in its natural habitat is highly unlikely. She is survived by her younger brother Mapuna, who is currently part of Pu¯kaha’s captive breeding programme.
“Rangers caring for Manukura noticed she was not eating and losing weight in early December 2020,” said Emily Court, Pu¯kaha’s General Manager. “This resulted in her being swiftly taken to Wildbase Hospital, a specialist wild animal veterinary practice at Massey University in Palmerston North. Wildbase vets operated to remove an infertile egg that had become stuck and unable to be passed naturally. More surgery was then required to remove her oviduct and most of her left ovary.
“The surgeries went well but were not enough to save the ailing kiwi whose health continued to deteriorate in the weeks following the operation.”
Manukura passed away peacefully at 12.50pm on December, 27 with rangers and veterinary staff present.
Ms Court said it was one of the saddest days the wildlife centre had ever experienced. “Manukura is very much a part of the Pu¯kaha family and we have always felt so blessed to have Manukura to help us to tell the Aotearoa’s conservation story.
“The incredible team at Wildbase did everything in their power to save her but it was her time to go. We are so grateful for the love and care that the Wildbase team have shown Manukura over the years. With her regular health scares they have certainly come to know her and her quirky personality just as much as our rangers. They are as devastated as we are,” she said.
DOC Wairarapa Operations Manager, Kathy Houkamau — who was the Centre Manager at Pu¯kaha when Manukura hatched and now sits on the Pu¯kaha board — remembers Manukura fondly. “She was a fantastic ambassador for Pu¯kaha, kiwi, conservation and tourism in Wairarapa and we are all very sad that she has passed. Over the past 10 years she delighted multitudes of people and in her own quiet way shone a spotlight on the precarious plight of kiwi in the wild. She will be sorely missed.”
Rangita¯ne Kaumatua Mike Kawana was there to do karakia over her and gave her the name Manukura when she was born, so it was appropriate and truly special that his brother Rangitane Kaumatua Manu Kawana was there to offer karakia and words of comfort at her passing in te reo.
“Taiahaha! ka rere te kohu ki runga I a Pu¯kaha maunga taiahaha! Kei te taonga Manukura hoki wairua atu ki Hauturu ki roto I nga¯ pu¯rakau. o Nga¯ti Manuhiri, E tangi ana a Rangita¯ne, moe mai ra¯ e te taonga manu moe mai ra¯.
“Rangitane are saddened at the news of Manukura’s passing, Rangita¯ne have always believed she was a precious taonga and were privileged to have played a small role in her life, she has had a profound effect on so many peoples lives over the years that we are sure everyone joins us in our grief,” said Mike on learning of her passing
On Saturday a service was held at the Wildlife Centre to honour Manukura and to celebrate her extraordinary life and legacy. A carving in memorial of her will be produced by the Pu¯kaha carving team and placed at the Kiwi House ready to be unveiled on May 1, Manukura’s birthday and the date of a ceremony when Rangita¯ne formally gift the Pu¯kaha reserve to the people of New Zealand. Her feathers will remain at Pu¯kaha and be used to create special taonga in her honour.
The Pu¯kaha staff and volunteers have been humbled by messages that have poured in since the news of her death was announced.