Taranaki's Young Farmers are playing a vital role in helping rebuild the region's dwindling kiwi population.
Two juvenile kiwi were released into Egmont National Park today as part of a programme run by the Taranaki Kiwi Trust.
Taranaki's Young Farmers' clubs donated $600 to help cover some of the costs associated with rearing one of the chicks.
"It costs up to $1500 to get a kiwi from an egg to a 1.2kg bird which can fend off predators and is ready for release," said Taranaki Kiwi Trust manager Michelle Bird.
"These birds were incubated and hatched at Kiwi Encounter in Rotorua. They came back to Taranaki earlier this year and have been growing inside a predator-free zone at Rotokare Scenic Reserve."