Big day for Tauroas, takahe

LOVEBIRDS?: takahe Hauhunga and Matariki scoot for cover after being released into a protected enclosure at Maungatautari on Thursday afternoon. Staff from the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust observed the pair from a safe distance and were delighted to see Hauhunga chewing on some punga leaves. Des Williams photo.

By Grant Johnston

Thursday was a special day for Ted and Carol Tauroa, but they can’t wait for an even more special occasion in the future.

The Pukeatua farmers donated the three hectares to the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust where a pair of takahe were released on Thursday afternoon. They are the first breeding pair to be introduced to the upper North Island.

Carol Tauroa says they are hoping to see offspring inside the next two years. The 18-month-old takahe should thrive in the protected area on the mountain, along with other reintroduced species.

It is a significant development for one of New Zealand’s rarest native birds - there are less than 300 takahe in the world. They were thought to be extinct until 1948 when a handful were rediscovered in Fiordland.

Fossil remains in the area around Maungatautari show that a North Island takahe species once existed on the mountain. As they are now unfortunately extinct the Trust decided, after consultation with species recovery groups, to introduce the closely related South Island takahe.

The young male, Hauhunga and his female companion Matariki came from Maud and Mana Islands, in the Marlborough Sounds. They seemed to hit it off instantly when released on Thursday, scooting away together from the gathering of photographers and onlookers before branching out on their own.

GROWING GIFT: Carol and Ted Tauroa and the land they donated on Maungatautari where the takahe were released on Thursday. Mr Tauroa is a trustee for Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust. He says the naming of the birds (Matariki - Maori New Year and Hauhunga - after the South Island snow storms which cover Ngai Tahu lands) follows the tradition of naming taonga after topical events and recognising the gifting tribe. 171061AD

They had endured a big day already - being flown by helicopter to Wellington Airport and by plane to Hamilton Airport before having a range of health checks and having microchips installed. They were escorted by iwi from Ngai Tahu and Ngati Koroki Kahukura to Maungatautari, where a karakia was said before their release.

It capped a significant fortnight for the Trust, with Prime Minister Helen Clark presenting a $5.5 Million cheque the previous week from the Government to the project to predator proof fence the mountain.

An open day is planned for later this year to allow the public to see the birds.