18 Takahē were released into the Greenstone Valley by the Department of Conservation (DOC) and Ngāi Tahu on Wednesday (23 Aug) in an attempt to establish a third wild population.

The threatened and nationally vulnerable flightless bird was thought to be extinct before being rediscovered in Fiordland's Murchison Mountains by Invercargill's Dr Geoffrey Orbell in 1948.

Conservation efforts over the proceeding 70 years, including pioneering work at Fiordland's Burwood Takahē Centre, have not only seen bird numbers increase to around 500, but Fiordland's wild population secured and a second wild population established in Nelson's Kahurangi National Park in 2018.

DOC Whakatipu-Wai-Māori Operations Manager David Butt with Tūmai Cassidy, of Ngāi Tahu (Ōtākou), releasing takahē Reina and Mikaere. Photo: Glen Greaves/DOC 

Wednesday's release of 18 birds onto Ngāi Tahu's Greenstone Station was overseen by Ngāi Tahu rangatira Tā Tipene O’Regan. 

Tā Tipene has enjoyed a connection with takahē since first meeting the taonga during an expedition with Dr Geoffrey Orbell in 1949, one year after takahē were rediscovered.

“I have been enraptured by takahē since I was a boy, so it is very satisfying to release our taonga on our own whenua as we move towards a shared goal of seeing takahē throughout the Ngāi Tahu Takiwā.”

“Greenstone Station is a fitting home for our takahē. It has immense spiritual and cultural significance for Ngāi Tahu whānau and was a traditional pounamu and mahinga kai trading route between Te Tai o Poutini and Ōtākou,” Tā Tipene said.

Next month marks 25 years since the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act passed, which saw Greenstone and two other high-country stations return to Ngāi Tahu. Tā Tipene was the Chief Negotiator for the iwi during that process.

“In recognition of the historic grievances of Ngāi Tahu, mana whenua named the mountain tops Kā Whenua Roimata - The Lands of Tears. I hope manuhiri/visitors will enjoy the nearby call of the takahē radiating from the valley floor during future hīkoi on this whenua,” says Tā Tipene.

DOC Takahē Recovery Operations Manager Deidre Vercoe said attempting to set up a third wild population was another pivotal step towards the takahē recovery goal of multiple takahē populations living wild over large areas of their former range. 

“Around half of all takahē are now living in large wild sites."

“With takahē numbers nearing 500 and growing at around 8% a year, new homes are needed."

"After decades of hard work to increase the takahē population, it’s rewarding to now be focusing on establishing more wild populations, but it comes with challenges."

“Establishing new wild native species populations can take time and success is not guaranteed."

"If we want takahē to thrive, we need to explore new sites and learn as much as we can to protect the birds now and into the future."

"We will closely monitor the takahē in the Greenstone Valley to see how they establish in their new home.”

With the manu/birds now released, people walking the Greenstone Track or hunting in the valley will have the chance of seeing takahē roaming wild in their natural tussock land habitat.

Vercoe says the Greenstone Valley was selected because it appears to have suitable habitat and predator numbers can be maintained at low numbers. 

“The Greenstone Valley habitat is similar to the valley floor habitat in the Murchison Mountains but larger in area. It has the staple food for takahē including tussock, sedges, and importantly it has a large amount of Hypolepis millefoium – summer green fern – which sustains takahē through harsh winter conditions. 

“It is planned to follow this release of nine breeding-age pairs with the release of another seven subadult birds in October and up to 10 juvenile takahē early next year."

"If a population successfully establishes in the Greenstone Valley, expanding the takahē population over the upper Whakatipu Waimāori valleys will be considered." 

“Trapping of stoats, ferrets and feral cats has knocked down predator numbers and is continuing to keep them low which is crucial for sustaining takahē populations in the wild."

"We’re grateful to partner organisations for trapping that supports the return of takahē to the Greenstone Valley.”

Funding from Takahē Recovery Programme National Partner Fulton Hogan has provided 45 ferret traps and 25 cat traps that are installed in the valley.

Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust has provided stoat traps and assisted with maintaining the trap network in preparation for the takahē.

It is also carrying out additional stoat, possum, and feral cat control at the head of the lake around the Routeburn, Dart and nearby valleys from $416,000 Jobs for Nature funding granted by DOC.

This includes trapping of feral cats on the road to the Greenstone Valley, with support from Southern Lakes Sanctuary.

Air New Zealand, as part of its 10-year partnership with DOC, is contributing to protecting takahē through its funding of biodiversity work in the Routeburn and Greenstone Valleys, which includes traplines in the Greenstone Valley.