Ten critically endangered takahe from Fiordland are to be released this afternoon to a predator-free open sanctuary, in Tawharanui Regional Park north of Auckland, as part of a programme to save the flightless species of native bird.
The takahe are from the Burwood Bush Takahe Rearing Unit, near Te Anau, run by the Department of Conservation (DOC) Takahe Recovery Team.
It is the first release of takahe into the wild on the Auckland mainland.
The birds were in specially designed Mitre 10 Takahe Rescue transport boxes for the Air New Zealand passenger flight from Queenstown to Auckland.
The airline has a partnership agreement with DOC that so far has taken 1300 native animals to new homes.
DOC takahe conservation manager Deidre Vercoe said with funding from Mitre 10 Takahe Rescue the recovery programme had 125 breeding pairs of takahe established at predator free sites like Tawharanui, which is east of Warkworth.
The Tawharanui Open Sanctuary Society (Tossi) has established a 2.5km predator-proof fence to keep stoats, rats and other pests out.
"With only 58 breeding pairs at safe sites right now, we have a long way to go to secure the survival of takahe. Tawharanui has an import role to play in this work as it provides another safe home to breed more takahe," Ms Vercoe said.
"We thank Auckland Council and Tossi for preparing the sanctuary for these 10 takahe. We will be releasing more takahe here. We aim to establish a population of 10 breeding pairs at Tawharanui."
Auckland Council parks chairwoman councillor Christine Fletcher called it "a tremendous occasion" for the open sanctuary.
"Today's release celebrates the hard work that has gone on for more than a decade to create a safe haven for a critically endangered species like takahe on the Auckland mainland -- in a place where recreation and farming coexist with conservation."
Sanctuary society chairwoman Ngaire Wallen said planning and fundraising for the arrival of takahe has been a major project for the last 12 months.
"We are confident that takahe will be another very successful translocation into the open sanctuary. With only around 260 takahe left in the world, these ten birds are incredibly precious."
"Tossi and our community have supported the building of additional containment fence in preparation for the birds' arrival.
"We are also well prepared to closely monitor the birds to maximise their wellbeing, particularly in the first month after their arrival. We are confident they will settle in well and thrive here."
"The ongoing support of all our volunteers and donors is very much appreciated and we especially recognise the generosity of the Tindall Foundation and Mitre 10 MEGA Warkworth."
Air New Zealand sponsorship and communities manager Meghan Blair said transporting New Zealand's endangered wildlife was just one of the ways Air New Zealand was working with DOC to protect New Zealand's natural environment.
"Since the beginning of our partnership we have translocated nearly 1300 native animals. As the national carrier, this is a great example of using our resources to contribute to common biodiversity outcomes for New Zealand."
- By Wayne Thompson of the New Zealand Herald
