The Department of Conservation has released eight of the taonga species on the Farewell Spit.
Photo: DOC/Lisa Van Beek
Takahē have been returned to the northern end of the South Island’s Golden Bay after the completion of a predator-proof fence.
The Department of Conservation has released eight of the taonga species on the Farewell Spit, where they have been absent for 100 years.
The new $400,000 fence stretches four kilometres across the Tasman Sea to Golden Bay along the Old Man ridgeline.
It shelters 2000 hectares – including 50km of coastline – from rats, stoats and cats.
It’s been made possible by the collaboration of Manawhenua ki Mohua, the DOC, Pest Free Onetahua and HealthPost Nature Trust.
Lucy Butler, a trustee of Health Post Nature Trust, said she was “really happy and proud to be at this point”.
She noted the area within the fence was a Ramsar site – a wetland of international significance – home to korora, gannets and many other sea and shore birds.
She hoped more threatened native species, such as the kiwi, could be re-introduced.
Corey Mosen, the project lead for Pest Free Onetahua, echoed her excitement at the takahē’s re-introduction. He looked forward to seeing them thriving as the project continued.
He said the area was still a “work in progress” in terms of what they hoped to achieve, but that “good headway” was being made to eradicate possum and reduce predators behind the fence.
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