Two of Aotearoa’s most endangered native species—Hamilton’s frog (pepeketua) and the white-bellied skink—are set to receive a critical conservation boost as the Government invests in breeding programmes aimed at preventing their extinction.
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced new funding to establish secure backup populations for both species, saying the work is essential to safeguarding unique wildlife found nowhere else in the world.
“These species are part of what makes New Zealand special. Once they are gone, they are gone for good,” Potaka said.
Hope for Hamilton’s Frog
The funding will see 200 Hamilton’s frogs transferred into specialised breeding facilities at Auckland Zoo and Orana Wildlife Park.
The move comes as the species’ primary wild population has declined by around 80 per cent, placing one of the world’s most ancient frog species at increasing risk.
Hamilton’s frog is classified as Threatened – Nationally Critical and survives naturally on only two islands in the Marlborough Sounds—Te Pākeka (Maud Island) and Takapourewa (Stephens Island).
Unlike many frogs around the world, Hamilton’s frogs do not croak or rely on ponds for breeding. Instead, they lay eggs on land beneath forest cover, with males guarding both eggs and developing froglets until they are ready to emerge.
The species can live for up to 45 years, making it one of New Zealand’s most remarkable native amphibians.
Officials hope captive breeding will increase frog numbers and support future recovery efforts in the wild.
Saving One of New Zealand’s Rarest Lizards
The funding package will also support the creation of a protected population of the white-bellied skink at Orana Wildlife Park.
The skink is regarded as one of New Zealand’s rarest reptiles, with scientists estimating fewer than 100 individuals may remain in the wild.
Classified as Threatened – Nationally Critical, the species is found only in the Ō Tū Wharekai / Ashburton Lakes Basin in Canterbury, where it inhabits steep scree slopes in the high country.
Despite decades of searching, researchers have identified only three tiny wild populations.
Predator control continues to protect the remaining habitat, while captive breeding is expected to play a vital role in rebuilding numbers before skinks are eventually returned to protected areas within their natural range.
Protecting Taonga Species
Minister Potaka said the investment reflects the importance of protecting species that exist nowhere else on Earth.
The long-term goal is to establish secure insurance populations while continuing habitat restoration and predator management in the wild.
For Māori, many native species are regarded as taonga, carrying cultural, ecological and whakapapa significance. Their survival reflects not only the health of the environment but also the enduring responsibility of kaitiakitanga—protecting the natural world for future generations.
Conservation experts say captive breeding programmes have already helped rescue several endangered native species in Aotearoa, and they hope these latest efforts will ensure Hamilton’s frog and the white-bellied skink remain part of New Zealand’s unique biodiversity for generations to come.
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