Season's first greeting | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Rainbow Springs' Kiwi Encounter has had its first hatchling of the season.

The kiwi was one of six eggs collected from Ohope beach.

Cassie hatched early on Tuesday and weighed in at 301g, quite small for its age, as the average kiwi weighs 340g when it is born.

The light-coloured bird hatched according to schedule and its gender will be determined by DNA testing in about two or three months' time.

The kiwis are released into the wild when they weigh 1kg.