Kapiti Island lies about 5km off the west coast of the southern North Island. It is 10km long and about 2km wide, covering and area of 1965 hectares. It’s highest point Tuteremoana is 521 meters (1709 feet) above sea level. Kapiti is one of New Zealand’s nature reserves – it is large island sanctuary for birds. At Kapiti Island human interference is kept to minimum possible and big efforts are made to minimize the adverse effects of any introduced plants or animals on the island.

The Kiwi is New Zealand’s most ancient living bird. It is also a biological oddity. Kiwis are flightless and mostly nocturnal, they more like a mammal than a bird.
Kiwis have hair-like feathers, whiskers like a cat, heavy marrow-filled bones and strong muscular legs, a soft claw at the end of its wings. Kiwis have a lower body temperature than most other birds, fleshy footpads, and a beak like a nose. Female kiwi have two functional ovaries. Kiwis are the only birds with nostrils at the end of their long beak. Kiwis build burrows just like a badger, and lay big eggs. After incubation of several months, fully-feathered and almost independent chicks are hatched.
According to many Maori traditions, the kiwi is the eldest child of Tane Mahuta, god of the forest, and offers protection to Maori.
You can spot a Kiwi by listening to its distinctive repeated whistles or guttural calls at night. Kiwi also leave a calling cards. Check for beak probe holes in the ground, large grey and white smelly droppings, feathers snared in hookgrass, burrows, and footprints (provided that the terrain is soft).
Kiwi numbers are decreasing rapidly on New Zealand’s mainland. In 2005 kiwi numbers were about 60,000 birds. They were counted in millions (!) in the past. About half of all kiwi eggs fail to hatch, and of those that do hatch, only ten percent of chicks survive to the age of six months, and less than five percent reach adulthood. Kiwis suffer from the New Zealand’s introduced predators such as stoats, ferrets, dogs and cats.
Department Of Conservation does everything in its power to save the Kiwis. Their predator management and control programs have proven successful in reversing the declines.
Here is what tourists can do to help saving kiwis:

As their name implies New Zealand Sea Lions found only in New Zealand. They are one of the rarest seals in the world, with total population under 12000 and declining. Currently New Zealand Sea Lions can be found on the south and southeast coast f the South island and at Stewart Island.
Sea lions are usually feel confident around humans. They will generally ignore people if they are resting on the beach, but be careful and don’t approach too closely as they might just have a change in their mood (for example during a breeding period) and chase you. People often think that sea lions are playful in the water, but if you are diving or swimming in the vicinity of sea lions be always prepared to move away.
Generally you can smell sea lions from a long distance since they have a very strong and distinctive smell. And if you see sea lion cough, sneeze or vomit – don’t worry, it is normal for them to do so. They vomit to get rid of undigested food.