Capital Kiwi Project

The Capital Kiwi Project is a community conservation project committed to restoring a large-scale wild Kiwi population to Wellington’s ‘backyard’ (aka Mākara). At Mākara Model School we have a close relationship with the Capital Kiwi Project, coming together for special events and learning opportunities. In 2021, a Kiwi release event was held at school, including the release of kiwi Matriarch, Anahera. In 2024, Anahera was made the patron of our school. In 2025, Mākara Model School hosted a Capital Kiwi Day, where ākonga learnt about many different aspects of Kiwi conservation. 

Our role in the partnership, and as part of Wellington’s ‘backyard’ community, is to teach, grow, and be ‘Kaitiaki Kiwi’ (Kiwi Guardians). 

Mākara School actions this through: 

• Pest control in the school boundary
• Learning and teaching through and ecological lens
• Working with Capital Kiwi to facilitate learning for other schools in the rohe (area) about Kiwi
• Teaching the significance and importance of reestablishing Kiwi in our rohe
• Teaching ākonga (students) how they can use sustainable practices to create a safe & lasting environment for Kiwi and other native taonga