Endangered native birds are making a comeback in Hawke’s Bay, with new takahē breeding pairs released into a protected sanctuary at Cape Kidnappers.
The rare, flightless birds have been introduced to the predator-fenced Cape Sanctuary, which surrounds the Cape Kidnappers golf course, marking another step forward in efforts to rebuild the national population.
The release is part of the long-running takahē recovery programme, which aims to grow numbers and establish secure breeding populations across Aotearoa after the species was once thought extinct.
Cape Sanctuary provides a safe environment free from introduced predators such as stoats and feral cats, giving the birds a better chance to breed and thrive.
Conservation efforts have seen takahē numbers gradually recover over recent decades, with populations now spread across several protected sites around the country, including islands and fenced mainland sanctuaries.
The Cape Kidnappers site, located on the Hawke’s Bay coast, is one of the largest privately owned predator-free sanctuaries in New Zealand, combining conservation with farming and tourism.
The landscape, including gullies and irrigated grass areas within the golf course, is considered suitable habitat for takahē, which rely on grasslands for feeding and nesting.
The introduction of breeding pairs is expected to help strengthen the species’ future, with conservation groups aiming to increase the number of secure populations and boost long-term survival.
Takahē remain one of Aotearoa’s most iconic and vulnerable native species, with only a few hundred birds in existence, making each successful release and breeding programme critical to their recovery.
The latest move is being seen as a significant milestone, not only for the species but also for collaborative conservation efforts involving private landowners, conservation groups and government agencies.
