Photos: Celebrations as 300th rare rowi kiwi chick hatches at West Coast Wildlife Centre

Celebrations are underway as the 300th rare rowi kiwi chick has been hatched on the West Coast last night.

The chick was hatched at the West Coast Wildlife Centre in Franz Josef around 10.15pm.

According to the centre, there are an estimated 600 rowi kiwi alive in the wild today, meaning in less than nine years 50 per cent of the current population has been hatched at the Franz Josef wildlife centre.

Another five eggs are currently incubating at the facility.