THE WHITE KIWI

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23010, 11 April 1938, Page 15

THE WHITE KIWI

RECENT EXISTENCE WEST COAST SPECIMEN The existence of several white kiwis in the West Coast district many years ago has been claimed since tho publication in Invercargill of a paragraph stating that white feathers in a ceremonial Maori mat at present in the possession of a chieftainess in the Mourea district, between Rotorua and Rotoiti, evidence that a white kiwi, one of the rarest of birds, probably lived within the last 20 years. A letter sent to the Southland Times states that several white kiwis were seen near Martin's Bay on the West Coast some years ago, but since the introduction of ferrets and stoats, which are credited with killing native birds, kiwis have become scarce. A clipping from the West Coast Times about 26 years ago shows that on one 01" the visits of the Government steamer Hinemoa to Westport it brought a beautiful specimen of the pure white kiwi which had been caught by McKenzie Brothers at Martin's Bay and placed in the care of the chief officer for sale. A Westport resident was very anxious to acquire the bird and offered £3 for it, but this was rejected, and a sale was later made at Wellington at £5. The bird was subsequently killed find preserved, and sold to a Berlin museum for £SO.