Little white kiwi ticks along at Pukaha | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Sitting around all day and putting on weight might seem a sign of laziness.

But Mauriora, the little white kiwi, is doing exactly what it's supposed to do.

Born in late December at Pukaha Mt Bruce, Mauriora is one of only two known white kiwi in the world.

The first, Manukura, was born in May last month.

Wildlife rangers still don't know whether the new addition is male or female, which won't be known for a few months, but are more than happy with its progress.

Its sole job is to put on weight, and the little bird has grown to 492 grams, which its carers say is "about right".

"It's just been ticking along nicely, gaining weight, being happy and behaving itself," National Wildlife Centre's manager Kathy Houkamau said.

Mauriora has been outside "for a few weeks now", but cannot be seen by the public.

Like most young kiwi, the bird has a stroppy side - which is also a good thing.

"The feistier they are, the happier they make us," Mrs Houkamau said.

That was because the fiercer they behaved, the more able they were to defend themselves when they were released into the wild.

"We prepare them as best we can," Mrs Houkamau said.

"There's really minimal interaction with them though - we generally leave them to their own devices."