Kiwi house and native bird park Otorohanga

We are on the road to Pukekohe, but our first stop is nearby. We want to pay a visit to the Kiwi house and Native bird park in Otorohanga.
When we get there the man selling us the tickets is very kind, he lets us in at another gate because there was just a bus full entering the park. This way, we don’t get stuck in the crowd. He gives us a map and writes down times when they are feeding the birds. There are two kiwi houses and we start at number two. It is dark inside, kiwis are night birds so they changed their day and night rhythm. We let our eyes adjust to the dark and then we see a kiwi. It isn’t very active but it wanders around a bit, there is a second kiwi which is a wee bit more active but not much. When we have seen enough, we go outside and have a look at the gecko’s. there is one we can’t find but then I discover it, it is on top of the light. We go to the first kiwi house a bit before feeding time. One of the zookeepers tells us about kiwis. They are very aggressive in their territory. She has to wear two pairs of pants an rubber boots because the kiwi will attack her when she brings the food in. There are several different species of kiwi birds, this is a big one. The lady goes to the back and changes her clothes. Then she goes in the cage, the kiwi immediately runs at her and starts attacking with her beak and claws. The zookeeper can hardly walk. She puts down the bowl of food but the kiwi ignores it completely. She just goes on attacking the zookeeper. All the way back to the door where she came in. When she is sure she is alone again, she goes to the bowl with food. She eats a bit and then runs back to the door again, checking if she is really alone. Another run to the bowl and then the bird starts eating for real. Believe me, this bird can run very fast! This was for sure a very active kiwi.
After this we go on through the park, see some more birds. We have a look at the Kea’s when they are getting their food, but we have seen Kea’s in the wild, so we don’t hear a lot of new information. Yes, they are cheeky and it is the only mountain parrot in the world. They only live on the South island, but the North island has another parrot, the Kaka. These are a bit skinnier than their cousins and they have another colour, but these are quit cheeky as well. We go on again, one more part to go, the big cage. When we have seen everything we wanted to see we go back to the car and go on with our journey.