It is 130 years since kiwi lived in the Dunedin area and four years since the Otago Natural History Trust began the process to have kiwi in the ecosanctuary.
"This is huge. It's hard to believe [after all this time]," ecosanctuary general manager Chris Baillie said.
Only about 350 of the kiwi remain in the wild.
The ecosanctuary expected to get six to eight birds - a breeding balance of males and females - which would "free range".
Ultimately, the ecosanctuary would become a "kiwi creche", with the translocated bird's young kept there until they were judged able to defend themselves from predators such as stoats.
They would then be returned to their home area.
Another eight Haast tokoeka could be introduced by the next of next year.
Ms Baillie said ecosanctuary visitors were likely to hear the kiwi and possibly see them around dusk.
It was hoped to begin night-time or twilight tours once the kiwi settled in.
Trust chairman Neville Peat, also an author of three books on kiwi, said the last kiwi recorded in Dunedin were two little spotted kiwi killed by a dog at Burkes on Otago Harbour in 1872, so it would be a "momentous day for Otago and Dunedin biodiversity" when they were released on October 30 by Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson.
"Without intervention to boost their numbers, Haast tokoeka face extinction."
The transfer was being organised by the Department of Conservation in collaboration with South Westland Maori, Te Runanga o Makaawhio and the Karitane-based runanga Kati Huriapa ki Puketeraki.
Doc biodiversity assets programme manager David Agnew said the transfer was an important part of the recovery programme for the Haast tokoeka.
