North Island Brown Kiwi--Apteryx mantelli

The North Island Brown Kiwi is found in the upperparts of the North Island, with large numbers in Northland. They have reddish brown feathers. The average female is heavier (2.8kg) than the male (2.2kg). They are about 40cm high.
There are an estimated 35,000 surviving.

Okarita Brown--Apteryx mantelli

It was only realised in 1993 that the Okarita Brown kiwi was a distinct variety of Kiwi. It has slightly greyish feathers, and sometimes has white feathers on its face. They live in forests just north of Franz Joseph Glacier in the South Island.
These are the rarest of the Kiwi varieties with only about 140 alive today. In the last 3 years no chicks have lived past 3 months old, the eggs are being eaten by possums and the young are being killed by stoats.

Stewart island Brown--Apteryx australis

Also known as the Southern Tokoeka, it is the largest of the Brown Kiwis, and is different from the rest because it often comes out in the day time. It is also the only variety of Kiwi that the female takes turns with the male to sit on the egg. A pair mate for life.
Another unusual behaviour is that they join with other family members and live in the same burrow, sometimes there are up to six Kiwis in the same hole.
They are found in Fiordland and on Stewart Island. There are 27,000 surviving.

Haast Brown---Apteryx australis

Also known as the Haast Tokoeko. They live in the high mountain basins in the Haast region, of the South Island, in the summer but go down to sea level to be warmer during the winter.

Little Spotted Kiwi----Apteryx oweni

This species is the smallest Kiwi, it is only about 40cm tall. Its feathers are brownish black, with grey bands on the body. In relation to the size of its body their egg is larger than any other bird in the world.
The Little Spotted Kiwi population has been badly affected by possums, stoats, cats and larger predators. It was once common in the South Island, but it is now extinct on the mainland and is found only on Kapiti Island, near Wellington, where 1000 birds live. Kiwi's are being transfered to other islands to try and establish new colonies (including Tiritiri Matangi, Hen Island, Red Mercury and Long Island). Some birds have been released in the Wellington Sanctuary and these are the only Little Spotted Kiwi on the mainland

Great Spotted Kiwi--Apteryx haastii

The Great Spotted is the largest of the Kiwi species. It is only found in the South Island, in Nelson, Westland, and Canterbury, mostly in high often harsh hill country.
The females only lay one a year, probably because it needs to conserve its energy to survive in the cold weather. Unlike all the other Kiwi species the chick stays in the burrow for up to a year after hatching.
The Great Spotted Kiwi population is thought to be 10--20,000.