The little spotted kiwi was on the brink of extinction when a conservation effort took place 100 years ago.

[7] The little spotted kiwi was first described in 1847 by John Gould from a specimen obtained by Frederick Strange and sent to England.

In 1873, Henry Potts published an account of its habitats, and about this time specimens were collected in South Westland and sent to England.

[11][12] Studies on Kapiti Island show that they prefer flax, seral, and older forest habitats.

Lower numbers are found in rough grassland and scrub, indicating that either they prefer other habitats or they simply need a larger territory to support themselves in these areas.

As they cannot fly to get to insects or food on trees and their eyesight is very poor, they depend on a keen sense of smell, long beak and talons.

Little spotted kiwi call occasionally each night to advertise territory and to maintain contact with partners.

Then a regular trade in skins sprang up and large numbers were collected for European museums.

Further, with the advance of European settlement, birds were killed by prospectors and others for food and their attendant dogs and cats took their toll.

Following the evaluation of its population size, this was found to be correct, and it was consequently downlisted to "near threatened" status in 2008 as, although not rare, its small range puts it at risk.