Wairarapa DOC ranger Henry Campbell explains the process of releasing Turbo, a young North Island brown kiwi, into the wild at the Pukaha Mt Bruce wildlife centre on Wednesday.

A North Island brown kiwi released into the wild at the Pukaha Mt Bruce wildlife centre north of Masterton has been christened Turbo, after hatching in record time.

But even Turbo might struggle to keep up with competitors in the centre's unique multisport race on September 27.

The Wild Challenge, a 10-kilometre run through virgin bush full of some of the country's rarest wildlife, followed by a 23km road cycle, includes among its prizes the chance to name, then personally release, one of next year's Kiwi House residents.

CALEB HARRIS/ FAIRFAX NZ Wairarapa DOC ranger Henry Campbell attaches a transmitter to a young kiwi named Turbo before releasing him into bush at the Pukaha Mt Bruce wildlife centre north of Masterton on Wednesday.

Ten-month-old Turbo, whose gender is not known yet, broke through the egg's shell in just three hours instead of the normal period of up to five days, and is one of last season's hatchlings.

He was released on Wednesday by Wairarapa DOC ranger Henry Campbell as part of the reserve's forest restoration project. He was helped by Wild Challenge competitors Jess Matthews and Judy Howard, who work for project sponsor Higgins contracting.

The 942-hectare, unfenced reserve is protected by an intense trapping programme, which put a stop in July to a bad run of kiwi deaths attributed to a "rogue" ferret, centre general manager Helen Tickner said.

"So we are now confident about returning our kiwi back into the forest."

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Campbell has personally released about seven kiwi before Turbo. He said it was an important task since forest restoration was not just about ridding the forest of introduced predators, but also restocking it with native fauna and flora.

"It's a privilege, quite special and a pretty rare thing to be a part of."

Between 12 and 20 North Island brown kiwi hatch each year in the centre's nursery and are gradually released into the wild as part of an effort to slowly restore birdsong to the remnant of the primeval bush.

This year's Wild Challenge will include a short, easier kids' course and all competitors get a family pass for their support crew, worth $50. More information: www.pukaha.org.nz