Northland's kiwi population given boost with 12 more birds released into forest

Northland's vulnerable kiwi population has been given a boost with the release of 12 kiwi into Whangārei's Pukenui Western Hills Forest on Saturday.

The kiwi were taken to Hurupaki School where they were blessed before being released into the forest to join 12 other kiwi that were released there last year.

Six of the kiwi are named after the six youngest people killed in the Christchurch terrorist attacks - Mucaad Adan Ibrahim, 3, Sayyad Milne, 14, Muhammad Haziq Tarmizi, 17, Hamza Khaled Mustafa, 16, Talha Naeem Rashid, 21, and Tariq Rasheed Omar, 25.

Hamza Khaled Mustafa the kiwi named after the 16-year-old Christchurch mosque attack victim before being released on Saturday. Photo / Tanya Cook

Pukenui Western Hills Forest Trustee Brooke Hartigan releasing the kiwi named after mosque terror attack victim Talha Naeem Rashid, 21, into Pukenui Forest. Photo / Tanya Cook

The kiwi to be released into Pukenui Western Hills Forest are brought onto the Hurupaki school grounds on Saturday.

Jehad Mostafa places the named photos of the Christchurch victims on the kiwis that bear their names.

The kiwi boxes with the photos and names of the youngest Christchurch shooting victims.

Invited guests at the kiwi release.

Rain didn't dampen the significance of Saturday's kiwi release, which honoured the youngest victims of the Christchurch terror attacks.

Kaumatua Richard Shepherd.

Northland Islamic Centre Imam Suhil Musa blessed the kiwi at Hurupaki School on Saturday before they were released into Pukenui Western Hills Forest.