Native Kiwi are touching down in Wellington today -- to be released into the hills of the capital after major community conservation work

The batch of birds is making the move from Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari - south of Hamilton - to Wellington Airport early this afternoon.

North Island Brown Kiwi first arrived in November 2022 and have settled in to the western hills well, nesting and laying eggs.

Capital Kiwi project leader Paul Ward expects the new arrivals to fare the same.

He says the success transforms the pace and scale of conservation, around our national taonga.