Considered vulnerable in the South Island, there are around 10000 Kākā nationwide with an increased population in the Abel Tasman National Park following a large scale project of trapping and reintroduction. Although they can coexist with rats, their main threat is stoats, followed by possums.

While Kākā need genetic diversity to survive, scientists and DoC work with the breeding coordinator to ensure populations are kept within the area they would naturally roam. Natureland has an established breeding population of young Te Tau Ihu birds that will continue to breed for release locally.

Orokonui, near Dunedin, has a strong kākā population. As they are still being fed, I was able to see them very close in the nearby trees and at the feeding station. Zealandia's translocation of kākā has been so successful that there are now around 1000 birds living in and around Wellintgon. Some still visit Zealandia to feed and nest and some have linked with wild populations. I saw able to see them inside and outside the predator proof fence, flocking, flying and playing.

After caring for kākā at Natureland, learning about their habits, diets and intellegence, it was incredibly exciting to be able to be present when 3 kākā were released into the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary. These three kākā spent some time in a purpose-built aviary to 'anchor' them to that whenua before being released. These birds whakapapa to the Nelson Lakes area and were reared in Dunedin at The Botanic Gardens programme. Upon release, they were given names by Ngāti Apa ki te rā tō who are mana whenua at Nelson Lakes and at my school.

Kāki (black stilts) are considered one of the most endangered birds in New Zealand and have been carefully managed since 1981, when their population dropped to just 23 birds. Even though there are currently around 169 adult kāki in the wild, they are still regarded as one of the rarest wading birds in the world.

DOC works alongside the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust in Christchurch, with breeding pairs kept in captivity to help boost numbers. Eggs are collected from both captive and wild breeding pairs, then artificially incubated, with the chicks raised safely in captivity. When they are around 3–9 months old, they are released back into the wild in braided river habitats around the Mackenzie Basin, including rivers such as the Tasman River, Ahuriri River, Tekapo River, and Godley River. Raising them in captivity gives them a much better chance of survival because they are protected from predators while they are still vulnerable. It also lowers the risk of adult birds being attacked by predators while nesting. Collecting eggs also encourages the birds to lay more than one clutch each year, increasing the number of chicks that can be raised.

I was suprised to learn that, on average, about 30% of captive-raised birds survive to breeding age once released, but in areas with strong predator control and ideal conditions, survival rates can be as high as 57%. There has also been a huge increase in productive breeding pairs, showing how successful the recovery programme has been.

Orange fronted (Cyanoramphus malherbi).

Because of its location beneath Nelson Airport's flight path, Natureland is unable to breed this species. The original kākāriki karaka that were translocated into the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary came from a captive breeding programme at Isaac Conservation Trust in Christchurch. From the first release of 20 birds just 5 years ago, in partnership with Ngāi Tahu, the population at the Sanctuary has flourished to almost 300, making it the world's biggest.

5 eggs were taken from wild sanctuary birds to be reared at Isaac and I was lucky enough to see 'Brook' the sole surviving bird from this clutch when I was there.

The tuatara at Natureland came from the Takapoureka (Stephens Island) nature reserve in the Marlborough Sounds and are cared for in partnership with Ngāti Koata who are kaitiaki for this species in Te Tau Ihu.

The tuatara at the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary are also descendants of the Takapoureka population, having come from a variety of sites including Natureland, Wellington Zoo and Franz Josef Wildlife Centre. A purpose built mouse-free fence, which sits inside the main perimeter fence, ensures this species can breed and thrive without predation.

Tuatara are not technically a 'breed for release' species as the population is stable but they are regularly translocated. I met Takapoureka tuatara at Orokonui in Dunedin, Zealandia in Wellington and at Wellington Zoo.

Red crowned (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae)

Yellow crowned (YCK) (Cyanoramphus auriceps)

Natureland has been breeding this species for ten years, following the translocation of 8 pairs from Hamote/Long Island in the Marlborough Sounds which is Te Ati Awa whenua. Most of the offspring have been released into the Abel Tasman National Park.

Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust work with the critically endangered shore plover, or tūturuatu. These small, curious shorebirds are endemic to Aotearoa and once lived across mainland coastlines, but now only around 250 remain. Today they’re mostly found on a few predator-free islands and in the Chatham Islands.

What makes them so vulnerable is their size and behaviour. At only about 60 grams, and naturally quite inquisitive and territorial during breeding, they’re easy targets for introduced predators like rats, stoats, and cats. Because of this, recovery efforts rely heavily on three things: keeping predator-free islands safe, captive breeding, and carefully managed translocations. The birds also have specific nesting habits, often using cover like tussocks or driftwood, which makes monitoring them in the wild and in captivity quite challenging.

The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust has been a major part of the recovery programme since the late 1990s, working closely with DOC. They’ve bred over 250 shore plover for release, helping establish new populations such as on Waikawa (Portland Island) and supporting efforts on Motutapu Island. Much of this success comes from purpose-built aviaries and dedicated hand-rearing of chicks to improve survival and breeding success before release.

Even though it’s a really complex species to manage, the long-term goal is simple: keep producing healthy birds for release and build stable, self-sustaining populations on predator-free islands. Without places like the Isaac Trust and their intensive breeding work, the future of the tūturuatu would be bleak.