Hunua Ranges

Kokako and North Island Robin in the Hunua Ranges

Kokako release, Hunua Ranges 2006

Kokako Recovery Programme

Over a decade ago, a survey of kokako in the Hunua Ranges showed that only about 25 males and 1 female remained.

Today however, through the efforts of the Auckland Regional Council, Department of Conservation, and many volunteers, the Hunua Ranges Regional Park is home to the only original native kokako population in the Auckland area.

This is largely due to an intensive pest management programme implemented in 1994.

Since the project began possum and rat numbers have been reduced to very low levels inside the 600 ha kokako management area, through baiting and trapping. As a result of the reduced animal pest numbers about 30 kokako have fledged and there are now nine kokako pairs in the management area, where there was only one pair in 1994.

Kokako project volunteering

High up in the Hunua Ranges, from spring until the end of summer, ARC staff and volunteers work to make sure that the kokako there have a successful breeding season, and you too can be part of this!

Volunteers of all ages help carry up bags of poison pellets into the bush, which are used to cull rat and possum numbers. The bush is very beautiful in the Hunuas and most people consider volunteer days to be going for a tramp with a purpose.

Anyone who would like to volunteer can join the team on a Tuesday or the second Saturday of every month from August to February. There are also opportunities for more extensive volunteering on the kokako project involving a minimum stay in the Hunuas of two weeks, including training.

You can download an information flyer here:

For becoming involved with the project in either of the two ways above, please contact Mags Ramsey on 536 7012 or mags.ramsey@arc.govt.nz

North Island robin recovery at Hunua

In May 2001, 30 North Island robins, captured at Pureora Forest, were released into the 600 ha kokako management block in the Hunua Ranges. The robin is believed to have become locally extinct in the Hunua Ranges sometime before 1900.

By September 2001, four pairs of robins had established territories inside kokako management area. During the 2001-02 summer, the four known pairs produced a total of 25 young and their progress is being monitored on an ongoing basis.