This is the story of Dodger, the first offspring of the first captive breeding pair of kiwi at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Dodger, who appeared on national television, was a kiwi with three names. He was adopted by children in both the North and South Islands, lived in two reserves in each island, mated successfully with a 'hard case kiwi', and flew in an aircraft five times. For one of the flights Air Zealand reserved the whole of business class for Dodger and his young companion. He was, indeed, Dodger, the kiwi that flew.

Dodger was reared in captivity under 'Operation Headstart' the first Kiwi recovery programme run by the Department of Conservation, the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, and the Bank of New Zealand. His Parents were two brown kiwi which had been flown down from the North Island.