Three kea chicks hatch at Kiwi Park Queenstown, a first in the park's 40 years

Three kea chicks have hatched at Kiwi Park Queenstown, the first kea ever born at the wildlife sanctuary in its 40-year history. Kiwi Park announced the hatching in a media release published by the Lakes Weekly Bulletin on 22 October 2026, which said the chicks hatched just over three weeks earlier. We read that release on 24 October.

The chicks were born to Mamakau, a female kea who arrived at Kiwi Park just over two years ago and is approaching her 12th birthday. Kiwi Park says the father is unknown, and that both resident males have been seen feeding Mamakau while she cares for the young. The three chicks will join the park's existing flock of four kea, making a seven-bird family group.

For visitors, the practical news is timing. Kiwi Park expects the chicks to begin exploring outside their nestbox in the coming weeks, and says visitors may then have the chance to see them in the park's walk-through kea habitat. Kiwi Park has not given a date, so check with the park before you plan a visit around the chicks.

Kiwi Park's kea are part of an advocacy programme coordinated through the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia, working with the Kea Conservation Trust and the Kea Recovery Group. The park says kea breeding in captivity has been tightly restricted across New Zealand for the past 35 years. It also promotes the Kea Pledge: do not feed kea, secure your belongings and interact with them responsibly. If you are heading into the mountains this summer, see Best time to visit Queenstown and Short walks near Queenstown for planning.