A rare little spotted kiwi has been spotted in the wild on the mainland for the first time in nearly 50 years. 

The bird was seen in March in the remote Adams Wilderness Area on the West Coast.

It's estimated only 2000 remain, and were thought to be only on offshore islands or in fenced predator-free sites.

DoC diversity ranger Iain Graham discovered the bird - and says they're more vulnerable to predators than other kiwi species. 

"It takes these guys a whole lot longer than our other kiwi species, it takes them up to two years to get to that stoat-proof weight, so they're vulnerable for a much longer period of time."

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