A holiday took an unexpected turn for a couple staying at Whangārei Heads when a kiwi wandered into the sleepout they were staying in.

The pair had left the doors open to cool the room on a warm evening and were getting ready for bed when they noticed a small brown kiwi quietly tucked into a corner. The discovery was so surprising that when one of them alerted the rest of the house, no one believed it at first.

"I fetched the others who likewise thought I was joking!" he wrote on social media.

"The kiwi was very calm, although I suspect the light would have blinded him. I carefully ushered him into a place where I carefully picked him up and placed him outside, where he scooted off into the night."

Forest & Bird regional conservation manager for Waikato and Taranaki, Elvisa van der Leden, told RNZ that the kiwi was likely a lost juvenile that had wandered into the sleepout without realising it was no longer outdoors.

She explained that kiwis have poor eyesight and rely heavily on their sense of smell, which can lead them into unexpected places.

Van der Leden stressed the importance of seeking expert advice when encountering wildlife, warning that it is easy to accidentally injure a kiwi due to its vulnerable ribcage and unique biology.

"They have a very specific biology; their ribcage area is actually quite vulnerable so it requires trained experts to handle them without harming them," she said.

Department of Conservation biodiversity liaison Jess Scrimgeour echoed the advice, urging people not to pick up kiwi. Instead, she said, clear an exit, gently usher the bird if needed, and contact DOC for guidance to ensure everyone stays safe,  including the kiwi.