A Very Special Kiwi Naming Ceremony!

A Very Special Kiwi Naming Ceremony!

On November 4, 2019, Zoo Miami welcomed Her Excellency Rosemary Banks, New Zealand Ambassador to the United States. Along with a special delegation, she traveled from Washington, D.C., for a special naming ceremony for the first kiwi ever to hatch in the state of Florida!

Ambassador Banks was accompanied by Mr. Chris McKenzie and Mr. Paora Haitana, both iwi leaders of the indigenous Maori people, who traveled from New Zealand to perform the official naming ceremony, as well as Nancy Gilbert, New Zealand Honorary Consul to the State of Florida. The historic kiwi was named “Paora” in honor of the iwi leader who has dedicated himself to wildlife conservation in New Zealand.

This special kiwi was hatched on April 9, 2019, from a fertilized egg that was received from the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. The egg was sent to Zoo Miami as part of a special loan agreement between the Smithsonian National Zoo and the Government of New Zealand, which is where kiwis are naturally found. Kiwis are the unofficial symbol of the country and the nickname given to its citizens. Every kiwi that is found outside of the country remains the property of New Zealand and the indigenous Maori people there.

Kiwis are listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.