Smallest kiwi egg ready to hatch

Kiwi bird breeders are eagerly awaiting the hatching of what is believed to be New Zealand's smallest egg.

The egg, dubbed Mini, weighed just 217 grams when it arrived at Rotorua's Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park - compared with the 442.1 grams its sibling weighed at the same time.

It is expected to hatch in about two weeks and staff are hoping its small size won't result in health problems.

Rainbow Springs says its next smallest egg was the prenatal home of McMurdo, who was born in 2012 and weighed 238.5 grams.

He grew to the normal size and had no health problems.

Staff are monitoring the eggs and regularly check them by shining light on them and whistle to the eggs to check movement and response.