The Hunua Kōkako Recovery Project is one of Aotearoa’s great conservation success stories — a long-running collaborative effort to protect and restore the last naturally occurring kōkako population in mainland Tāmaki Makaurau. Since 1994, the Kōkako Management Area (KMA) has been maintained through intensive pest control to support kōkako and other threatened species such as Hochstetter’s frog and long-tailed bats. The results speak for themselves: from just a single breeding pair in the early 1990s, the kōkako population has grown to over 250 breeding pairs, making the Hunua Ranges one of only two mainland strongholds for the species.

Our team has been proud to support this project over many consecutive seasons, working across various parts of the KMA wherever additional support is needed. We assist with delivering bait pulses and trap maintenance alongside volunteers and council staff.

Work within the KMA requires a high level of fitness, field competency, and bushcraft. The terrain is steep, often off-track, and exposed to the full range of weather conditions. Staff navigate dense forest with heavy packs over long hours, facing hazards like slippery slopes, wasp nests, feral animals, and occasional unauthorised activity. Safety, preparedness, and situational awareness are essential on every outing as well as a deep respect for the forest and its inhabitants.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important mahi.  It is a privilege to support the dedicated community of volunteers, mana whenua, and conservation professionals working to safeguard these taonga. The haunting call of the kōkako, once nearly lost from this region, is now a reminder of what’s possible when people commit to long-term environmental care.