She was commissioned in 1941 for minesweeping and anti-submarine roles. From 1948 to 1956 she functioned as a training ship. On 29 January 1943, with her sister ship Moa, Kiwi rammed and wrecked the Japanese submarine I-1. At the time Kiwi was under the command of Lieutenant Commander Gordon Bridson who was awarded the DSC and the United States Navy Cross for this action. Kiwi was the first of two vessels with this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and is named after the national bird of New Zealand.