Kiwi North is set to open officially at Whangarei Museum and Heritage Park on January 31 with a free open day from 10am to 4pm.

Museum staff and volunteers are putting the finishing touches to the addition that will also be home to the museum’s resident morepork, Ruru.

Museum visitor services manager Allie Fry said the kiwi house would provide a climate-controlled environment that would almost perfectly mimic the kiwi’s natural habitat. But best of all, it allows people to look into the daily (or should that be nightly?) routine of New Zealand’s iconic bird. The kiwi house, which is surrounded by glass for best viewing, can simulate night and day and all four seasons.

“People will be able to come and see kiwi in their natural environment, something that is difficult to do in the wild,” Ms Fry said.

Kiwi house husbandry officer Elizabeth Adams said Manuiti had been nursed back to health after losing out in a love triangle on Limestone (Matakohe) Island.

The brown kiwi was put on the island sanctuary in the hope he would mate, but he lost out to Baldrick.

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The rejection was such that the lovelorn bird lost his appetite and much of his weight.

Some TLC saw him swell from 1300g to 2.2kg quickly and he’s ready to get into his luxury bachelor pad.

Kiwi North will also house the museum’s gecko family, including Fat Albert, and members of the Pacific, Auckland green, forest and Duvaucel geckos.

Items from the museum’s permanent collection will also be on display. An expanded shop is also planned.

The museum is still fundraising for stage two of the project, which includes linking the kiwi house to the rest of the museum.