How many species of kiwi are there?

How many species of kiwi are there?

Five species of kiwi are currently recognised: North Island brown kiwi Apteryx mantelli; Okarito brown kiwi or rowi Apteryx rowi; tokoeka Apteryx australis; little spotted kiwi Apteryx owenii; and great spotted kiwi Apteryx haastii.  Rowi and tokoeka were previously described as subspecies of brown kiwi, but were elevated to full species status after research in the 1990s recognised their genetic distinctiveness.