For a bird once thought lost to time, the kākāpō continues to surprise us.

Image credit: Kākāpō Recovery / Department of Conservation (DOC)

Its story is full of resilience - fragile, remarkable, and still being written across the whenua today.

This is a journey that links two eras of conservation in Aotearoa:

• the courageous 1970s rescue mission that prevented extinction
• the modern, science-supported revival unfolding right now

Let’s explore how the silence of near-extinction has become a deep, resonant boom echoing through our forests once again.

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Part One - From Silence to Song: A Historic Return

A Species on the Brink

By the 1970s, kākāpō had almost vanished. Gone from the North Island, and reduced to a handful of solitary males in Fiordland, the species seemed destined to slip away unnoticed - much like the black robin decades earlier.

Then came Don Merton and a dedicated team of conservationists whose persistence reshaped the future of this taonga manu. Their work marked one of Aotearoa’s greatest conservation turnarounds.

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A Network of Predator-Free Refuges

Every remaining kākāpō was moved to predator-free offshore sanctuaries:

• Whenua Hou / Codfish Island
• Pukenui / Anchor Island
• Hauturu-o-Toi / Little Barrier Island

These islands became the backbone of the species’ survival.

Among those moved was Richard Henry, the last Fiordland male - a priceless genetic lineage that survives today through his daughter Kuia and a small number of descendants.

At its lowest point: the population hovered around just 50 birds.
Today: the population sits at 247+ individuals - still vulnerable, but a remarkable milestone.

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A New Era: Breeding Returns After Years of Quiet

After several seasons of limited or no breeding - driven largely by low rimu mast and climate variability - a shift is underway.

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A Silent Pause… Followed by Promise

DOC’s monitoring on Whenua Hou, Anchor Island, and Hauturu-o-Toi shows an exceptionally strong rimu mast this year, with 50–60 percent of rimu branch tips fruiting. Because kākāpō breeding depends heavily on rimu, this abundance is a game-changer.

Almost every breeding-age female - potentially around 87 birds - may nest this season.

This isn’t routine.
This is historic.

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A Return to the Mainland - for the First Time in a Century

Incredibly, male kākāpō have begun booming on the North Island mainland once again.

At Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, two males:

• Taeatanga (11 years)
• Tautahi (6 years)

began building bowls and sending their deep, rhythmic calls across the forest.
It’s the first time this behaviour has been heard on the mainland in more than a century.

Breeding isn’t expected yet - but the meaning is profound:

For the first time in generations, the mainland is beginning to feel safe again.

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Where Science, Tradition, and Care Meet

Modern kākāpō conservation blends mātauranga, innovation, and practical fieldwork:

• Lek breeding observations
• Radio transmitters for rapid response
• Supplementary feeding during lean fruit seasons
• Genetic planning to maintain diversity
• Artificial insemination to protect rare lineages

Every technique is designed to support long-term resilience - not dependence.

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Why This Breeding Season Matters

More nests mean more chicks, more diversity, and more security for the species’ future. But the islands supporting the population are small - and nearing their limits.

This brings the story to its next chapter.