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A rare breed of falcon is breeding after years of uncertainty, and offers new hope for the species.
A pair of kārearea (New Zealand Bush Falcon) are raising fledglings in the Te Ngāherehere o Kohukohunui / Hūnua Ranges, which in Auckland is considered rare, as it’s on the edge of their traditional breeding grounds. Alongside the growing kokako population, this is considered to be an exciting development.
It’s a major milestone for not only the kārearea, but also for the Auckland Council’s Natural Environment Control Rate (NETR), which has set a goal to eliminate rats, stoats, and possums by 2050.
Between December, 2025 and February, 2026, a targeted study commissioned by Auckland Council provided the first formal baseline assessment of the kārearea’s presence and breeding in the park.
The study was conducted across 293 locations after 313 hours of observation. Following aerial 1080 predator control, the project confirmed the presence and breeding activity of the kārearea. Paul Duffy, Auckland Council’s team manager, specialist advice, says the finding is significant.
“This study gives us the first clear evidence that kārearea are successfully breeding in the Te Ngāherehere o Kohukohunui / Hūnua Ranges. It also shows that intensive predator management and ground-based trapping are giving this threatened species the chance to make a comeback in the Auckland region. Predator control creates safer conditions for them and many other native species.”
Chair of the council’s policy, planning and development committee, Councillor Richard Hills, was amazed by the development and says this is fantastic news for Auckland’s native wildlife.
“Seeing a pair of kārearea successfully raising chicks in Te Ngāherehere o Kohukohunui/Hūnua Ranges shows the work we’re doing to control predators and restore our natural environment is making a real difference. It’s exactly the kind of outcome Aucklanders hoped for when they supported the Natural Environment Targeted Rate.
“The Hūnua Ranges are home to incredible species like the kārearea and the hauntingly beautiful kōkako. Take a hike, keep your eyes on the treetops, and you might spot one of these remarkable birds in the wild. It’s a reminder some of the most exciting things in Auckland aren’t on our phones, they’re out in nature.”
Kārearea nest on or near the ground, leaving their eggs and chicks vulnerable to cats, mustelids, pigs, and possums. There are only 5,000 to 8,000 left in the wild and they are classified as threatened.
