Wildlife Releases

Releasing weka

The size of the Sanctuary (250 hectares/1 square mile), the security of the predator proof fence and the quality of the habitat provide scope for restoring a wide range of threatened wildlife species back into their former range.

Wildlife species that have been released in the Sanctuary since 2000 include:

• little spotted kiwi (kiwi pukupuku)
• brown teal (pateke)
• North Island weka
• North Island robin (toutouwai)
• North Island saddleback (tieke)
• whitehead (popokatea)
• North Island kaka
• bellbird (korimako)
• New Zealand scaup (papango)
• North Island tomtit (miromiro)
• New Zealand pigeon (Kereru)
• hihi (stitchbird)

Forty-three bird species were recorded in the valley in 2005 compared with 33 recorded by the Ornithological Society in it's census carried out between 1993 and 1995, prior to construction of the fence. Some of these species, such as black swan, visit only occasionally. But 34 species are known to have bred in the valley in 2002, and 12 of these are species that have been released since 2000.

Bird Species recorded in the Sanctuary

• Native and endemic species (as of November 2005)
• Introduced species (as of November 2005)
• Download pdf version (as of November 2005) 72 kB

Definitions

• Endemic (to New Zealand): naturally found only in New Zealand and nowhere else, e.g., kiwi.
• Native (to New Zealand): naturally found in New Zealand and elsewhere, e.g., fantail. Also includes birds such as swallows that are recent self-introduced immigrants.
• Indigenous (to New Zealand): not a term usually used to describe species, but means the same as native.
• Introduced: brought to New Zealand by humans, e.g., starlings.

Species Transferred into the Sanctuary

North Island Kaka © Peter Martin

North Island Kaka

One of most visible and engaging of our forest birds, this parrot is a star attraction in the Sanctuary. Logging of our native forests and predation by introduced rats and stoats reduced these birds to only a few remnant populations on the mainland.

• National Conservation status: endemic species, nationally endangered.
• First Released in 2002 and breeding in the Sanctuary first recorded early in 2003.
• See photo record of kaka chicks hatch, grow, and mature.
• Find out how to Support the Sanctuary Kaka.

Weka © Peter Reese

North Island Weka (weka)

A flightless rail, the North Island weka has been released on several offshore islands.

• National Conservation status: endemic species, nationally endangered.
• First Released in 2000 and breeding successfully in the Sanctuary since 2001.
• More information about weka in the Sanctuary.

Little Spotted Kiwi (kiwi-pukupuku)

Little spotted kiwi © Peter Daniel

A member of the flightless endemic family of kiwi, this smallest kiwi became extinct in the North Island due to predation, surviving now only on offshore islands. The release of the kiwi in the Sanctuary returns the little spotted kiwi back to the North Island for the first time in over one hundred years.

• National Conservation status: endemic species, range restricted.
• First Released in 2000. Breeding successfully in the Sanctuary since 2000.
• More information about kiwi pukupuku in the Sanctuary.

North Island Saddleback (tieke)

Saddleback / Tieke © Peter Reese

A member of the endemic family of wattlebirds, this species has survived only on offshore islands following its extinction from the North Island due to predation. The release of the saddleback in the Sanctuary returns the species back to the North Island for the first time in over one hundred years.

• National Conservation status: endemic species, range restricted.
• First Released in 2002. Breeding successfully in the Sanctuary since 2002.
• More information about tieke in the Sanctuary.

Brown Teal (pateke)

Brown teal / pateke Photo by Geraldine Hulls

Now one of the rarest ducks in New Zealand due to predation and swamp drainage, the brown teal was formerly quite widespread in New Zealand.

• National Conservation status: endemic species, nationally endangered.
• First Released in 2000. Breeding successfully in the Sanctuary since 2002.
• More information about pateke in the Sanctuary.
• Find out how to Support the Sanctuary Pateke.

Scaup / Papango © Peter Reese

New Zealand Scaup (papango)

These birds are usually found on large deep lakes, rarely on shallow coastal lakes or lagoons.

• National Conservation status: endemic species, not threatened.
• First Released in 2001. Breeding successfully in the Sanctuary since 2002.
• More information about papango in the Sanctuary

Bellbird (korimako)

A group of bellbirds

Bellbirds are a key component of New Zealand's dawn chorus, and have been missing from Wellington for decades. Previous transfers to other locations have not resulted in a breeding population so there has been a conservation breakthrough at the Sanctuary.

• National Conservation status: endemic species, not threatened
• First Released in 2001. Breeding in the Sanctuary since 2002.
• More information about bellbirds in the Sanctuary.
• Find out how to Support the Sanctuary Bellbirds.

North Island Robin (toutouwai)

North Island Robin © Peter Martin

A highly visible small bush bird known for its friendliness. On the mainland, robin numbers have declined as a result of predation and habitat changes. Robins have been absent from the southern half of the North lsland for decades.

• National Conservation status: endemic species, not threatened.
• First Released in 2001. Breeding successfully in the Sanctuary since 2001.
• More information about Robin in the Sanctuary.
• Find out how to Support the Sanctuary Robins.

Whitehead (popokatea)

Whitehead © Peter Reese

The whitehead is a small bird of big voice that can be found in small flocks in winter. Populations have declined since the arrival of Europeans, but free of predation, whiteheads are likely to become one of the most common birds in the Sanctuary. Whiteheads are the host of the long-tailed cuckoo, so in future we might find cuckoo chicks being fed by whiteheads.

• National Conservation status: endemic species, not threatened.
• First Released in 2001. Breeding successfully in the Sanctuary since 2001.

North Island Tomtit (miromiro)

North Island Tomtit © Peter Reese

Absent from Wellington for decades.

• National Conservation status: endemic species, not threatened.
• First Released in 2001. No breeding recorded in the Sanctuary in 2002.
• Find out how to Support the Sanctuary Tomtits.

New Zealand Pigeon (kereru)

Kereru © Peter Reese

Kereru are a vital part of our forest ecosystem, because they are able to swallow large fruit such as tawa and distribute the seed to other areas. Rehabilitated birds will be released in the Sanctuary whenever possible.

• National Conservation status: endemic species in gradual decline.
• First released in 2002. No breeding recorded in 2002.

Hihi (stitchbird)

Traditionally hihi were thought to be a member of the honeyeater family but recent DNA analysis suggests this is not the case. It is now thought hihi have no close living relatives.

Hihi male © Peter Martin

By 1885 hihi were extinct on the mainland of New Zealand, probably due to predation, loss of habitat and bird diseases. The release of hihi in the Sanctuary returns the species to the mainland of New Zealand for the first time in over 120 years.

• National Conservation status: endemic species, nationally endangered.
• First released in the Sanctuary in February 2005.
• More information about hihi in the Sanctuary.

Potential Releases

Bats

Both short-tailed and long-tailed bats would have been found in the Wellington area in the past. Transfer techniques are still being developed and nearest potential source populations are small, so transfers into the Sanctuary may be precluded in the short-term. In 2004, long-tailed bats were detected in the Sanctuary.

Birds

Red-crowned Parakeet (kakariki)

The following forest species are considered appropriate for release into the Sanctuary:

• North Island brown kiwi,
• red-crowned and yellow-crowned parakeet (kakariki),
• North Island rifleman,
• North Island kokako, and
• takahe.

Transfers of any of these species into the Sanctuary will depend on finding suitable source populations and meeting national conservation criteria.

The following wetland species are also considered appropriate for release into the Sanctuary:

• NZ Shoveler,
• NZ dabchick,
• grey duck,
• grey teal,
• Australian coot,
• marsh crake,
• spotless crake and
• banded rail.

Transfer of these birds will not be a priority until the exotic fish have been eradicated from the Sanctuary.

Reptiles

Cook Strait tuatara, several endemic species of gecko and a number of endemic skink species are considered appropriate for release into the Sanctuary. However, these transfers will not be undertaken until the Sanctuary has become mouse-free. Some threatened species may need to come from captive-bred stock.

Amphibians

Several species of native frog are considered appropriate for release into the Sanctuary. However, these transfers will depend on finding suitable source populations that are free of disease and may also be delayed until mice have been successfully eradicated.

Fish

A number of fresh water fish species have been identified as appropriate for the Sanctuary to add to those already present (short-finned eel and banded kokopu). However, transfers will not be undertaken until exotic fish (brown trout and perch) have been eradicated. (More information...)

Invertebrates

Although many of the invertebrate fauna that would have been found in the valley is unknown, missing large-bodied species that would have become extinct due to predation include giant weta, large land snails and speargrass weevil. The transfer of large invertebrates will not be undertaken until mice have been successfully eradicated.

Further Information

• More information about reintroduction programs in New Zealand.
• Kereru Discovery Project - ways you can help New Zealand's native pigeon