Roha the kiwi was released in to the Pukenui Forest on the fringe of Whangarei City.

envirA Whangarei trust's long-held dream of bringing kiwi back to the Pukenui-Western Hill forest came true late last month with the release of 12 Northland brown kiwi into the 1700 hectare forest fringing Whangarei city.

Pukenui-Western Hills Forest Trust chairman Max Hutchings said that 10 years ago, "we set ourselves a goal of bringing kiwi back to the forest, and it's great to have turned this dream into reality".

"It's been a huge task clearing out the pests to make the forest safe for kiwi to return and working with neighbouring landowners to ensure dogs will be well controlled. But now we've done it!"

Malcolm Pullman Stella Schmid leads the kiwi in to the forest prior to their release.

A powhiri was held at Maunu School to welcome and bless the kiwi. A crowd of over 300 people gathered to watch and have a special up-close kiwi encounter before the birds were taken into the forest to their release sites.

READ MORE: Kiwi to be released near Whangarei

Pukenui Rangers Bevan Cramp and Ben Lovell and other members of the trust have received specialist kiwi training over the past six months.

Malcolm Pullman Pukenui ranger Ben Lovall with members of the crowd.

Cramp said it was "incredibly moving to place the kiwi into their prepared burrows and know that kiwi would once again be calling in the forest that night, for the first time in many years".

The Department of Conservation and Whangarei District Council who administer the forest, have worked alongside the trust for many years, helping to prepare for the day when kiwi would return to the forest fringes of Whangarei city.

Rolf Fuchs from the DOC Whangarei Office said the department was proud to work alongside community groups to help achieve biodiversity goals such as the return of threatened species to pest controlled areas.

"We hope these kiwi will thrive for many years to come."

The 12 kiwi will be joined by a further 28 kiwi in years to come.

Kiwi Coast Co-ordinator Ngaire Tyson noted: "With another kiwi population establishing in the forest, the vision of thriving Northland kiwi, free to roam the landscape from one pest controlled community-led project to another, just got another step closer!"