New Zealand’s rarest parakeet, Kākāriki Karaka/orange-fronted parakeet, could soon call Pukenui/Anchor Island home, if a project to relocate the taonga species gets the go ahead from the bird's recovery group.

The 1137 hectare island is located in Fiordland's Dusky Sound and has been predator free since 2001.

The island santuary is now home to the critically endangered kākāpō, as well as the endangered saddleback and mohua, and the little spotted kiwi.

The parakeet were twice declared extinct, once in 1919 and again in 1965, before being redicovered in the late 1980s.

Because they nest and roost in holes in trees, kākāriki karaka are extremely vulnerable to rats, stoats and cats. They have also been affected by loss of habitat.

There are thought to be only 330 Kākāriki karaka/orange-fronted parakeet now left in the wild.

Members of the Kākāriki Karaka Recovery Group, with the support of Kaitiaki Rōpū ki Murihiku, will soon visit Anchor Island to assess it for suitability.

Kaitiaki Rōpū ki Murihiku represents the four southern Ngāi Tahu Papatipu Rūnanga who hold mana whenua over Pukenui/Anchor Island.

DOC Kākāriki Karaka Operations Manager Wayne Beggs said establishing more self-sustaining wild populations is a crucial part of the plan to ensure the species’ recovery. 

“The captive breeding programme, run by The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust and Orana Wildlife Park, does a fantastic job of raising lots of chicks for wild release each year, but we need more safe sites to release them." 

“Our goal is to see kākāriki karaka thriving in the wild."

"The predator-free beech and rimu forest on Pukenui/Anchor Island should be a great site for kākāriki karaka to succeed.” 

Should Pukenui/Anchor Island be chosen, it will become the fifth wild population of parakeet.