Efforts to establish a colony of kiwi in northern Wairarapa have suffered a setback, with four birds falling victim to a ferret.
The birds were killed at Pukaha Mount Bruce where the Department of Conservation is trying to build a self-sustaining population.
Three of the kiwi that died had been transferred from Little Barrier Island in May this year. The other bird was part of an older population.
DoC says extra traps were set after the birds were found and a large male ferret, which is believed to be probably responsible, was caught.
The colony still has about 50 to 52 kiwi left.
