The Cape Kidnappers Wildlife Preserve plays host to a kiwi breeding and release program designed to save the endangered North Island Brown Kiwi. The 'Rough Block' has been carefully selected as the release area, a 180ha hilltop basin covered in native New Zealand bush.
Operation Nest Egg hatched its first chick in captivity in October 2006. Since then a number of kiwi have been reared as part of the breeding program. Once the chicks reach 800 grams they are carefully transfered into the wildlife area. The target release number is 60 chicks, this is predicted to provide a sustainble population of over 400 North Island Brown kiwis in the area.