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Local comeback kings, the native kōkako are set to take their show on the road.
A well-known success story, the revitalisation of the kōkako in the Hunua Ranges is set to be mirrored in Northland, project lead Miranda Bennett is hoping.
“This is a real full-circle moment. The Hunua population exists today because other regions once shared their birds with us,” she says.
“To now be in a position to return that support and help prevent local extinction occurring in Northland is incredibly special.”
In the mid-1990s, just one female and a small group of ageing males remained in the Hunua Ranges, putting the population at risk.
There was no magic formula – the bird’s population recovered gradually through intensive pest control, bird translocations, habitat management and, in general hard mahi by council and DOC (Department of Conservation) teams as well as iwi and volunteers.
Today, the forest is home to hundreds of these native birds, including more than 400 breeding pairs with strong annual breeding success.
Now, birds from the thriving Hunua population have been translocated to Mataraua, near Kaikohe in Northland, in a bid to prevent local extinction.
Kōkako populations in Northland’s forests have declined sharply during recent years. In some areas, only a handful of birds remain, with very few females, critical for breeding.
Their decline is thought to be due to predators, reduced food availability during times of drought and limited genetic diversity.
The Hunua birds are considered ideal candidates to assist their northern cousins because they come from a large, healthy population that isn’t located too far afield for the birds to travel.
Auckland Council’s investment in conservation helped rebuild the local population, councillor Richard Hills says.
“This is what conservation is all about, working together to protect our native wildlife. Being able to support other regions shows the real impact of that investment.”
With strong pest control measures now in place in Northland, conservation partners are optimistic the conditions are right for the birds to recover.
