The Rowi or Okarito Brown Kiwi (Apteryx rowi) is a critically endangered kiwi species found only in the area around Okarito in southern Westland nearly 30 km north of Franz Josef Glacier. It was once widespread in northern parts of the South Island as well as in the south of the North Island.
The rowi is a large kiwi species that is characterised by its brown plumage. Brown and blackish feathers are oriented lengthways and give the rowi its typical striped pattern. It has a long bill but short legs, toes and claws. Like other kiwi species, it is nocturnal and a very rarely seen bird. Compared to other endemic birds in New Zealand, the rowi breeds very slowly and lays only one egg a year.
Due to intensive logging and introduced predators, there is only one natural rowi population left. Numbers are estimated to have decreased to 400 to 500 birds that are now protected by the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary giving them 11 ha of lowland forest. Other adult birds have been translocated to the Cook Strait, on islands that are free of predators.