Dodger The Kiwi That Flew

Dodger The Kiwi That Flew

This is the heartwarming story of Dodger, the first kiwi hatched from the first captive breeding pair at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Dodger, a kiwi with three names, became a national television star and captured the hearts of children across both islands.

Experience his incredible journey as he’s adopted by kids, lives in four reserves, successfully finds a mate, and incredibly, flies in an aircraft five times! One memorable flight even saw Air New Zealand reserve the entire business class for Dodger and his young companion. He truly was Dodger, the kiwi that flew.

Dodger’s upbringing was part of “Operation Headstart,” a pioneering kiwi recovery program run by the Department of Conservation, the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, and the Bank of New Zealand. His parents were two brown kiwi brought down from the North Island, setting the stage for Dodger’s extraordinary life.