World Cup chicks keep on hatching

Seven the kiwi chick hatched at the Kiwi Encounter yesterday. Photo/Supplied

A tribute to the All Blacks' ongoing success at the Rugby World Cup has continued at Rainbow Springs' Kiwi Encounter with another chick hatching just in time for the semi-finals.

Seven - so named as it's the seventh Rugby World Cup semi-final that the All Blacks have played in - hatched yesterday.

Other recent arrivals with Rugby World Cup themed names included Retallick (man of match in the All Blacks win over Argentina), Cherry Blossom (for the Japanese team), Savier (for Julian Savea), and Twickenham.

Seven was the 43rd chick to hatch at Rainbow Springs this season.

Another chick hatched earlier today but has yet to be named.

Kiwi Encounter staff member Bev Wilkinson said "I hope the All Blacks are as active as this chick was in the early stages of hatching and also show the same determination it has."

Seven is from Tongariro and weighed in at 365.6g.

Rainbow Springs' involvement in kiwi conservation began in 1995 with the arrival of an orphaned egg and the hatchery has grown over the years to become the largest kiwi hatching facility in New Zealand, successfully incubating and hatching brown kiwi eggs from around the North Island.