The Takahe Relocation Project: Creating a sanctuary in the Rees Valley
The Takahē Relocation Project: Creating A Sanctuary In The Rees Valley
The Rees Valley is an amazing natural landscape that borders the Mount Aspiring National Park and is home to incredible and threatened native birds like the kea, kākā, yellow-crowned kākāriki and rock wren.
We’ve partnered with the Southern Lakes Sanctuary to help protect this valley to ensure it's a safe and thriving habitat for our endangered species. This is a significant conservation initiative aimed at ultimately reintroducing the takahē, one of New Zealand's most iconic and endangered bird species, to the valley. The Rees Valley provides an ideal habitat for the takahē, with its native tussock grasslands offering ample food and shelter.
The project is also a collaboration between the Department of Conservation (DOC), Ngāi Tahu, and other conservation partners. It seeks to establish a self-sustaining population of takahē in the wild, reducing the species' reliance on managed environments like sanctuaries and offshore islands.
This project involves multiple stages, including careful selection of release sites, preparation of the environment, and monitoring of the birds post-release.
Project rollout
In August 2023, takahē were reintroduced to the Greenstone Valley through a partnership between DOC, Ngāi Tahu, and Fulton Hogan.
Building on that milestone, the next stage of the recovery effort has focused on establishing a sanctuary in the Rees Valley. This work led to the successful release of takahē into the area in February 2025, marking a significant step forward in supporting the recovery of this treasured species (learn more here).
Creating a safe and thriving habitat has been a key priority. Extensive pest control measures have been implemented to reduce threats from stoats, feral cats, and rats—predators that pose a serious risk to takahē. Regular trapping and baiting programs help protect the birds as they adapt to their new home.
Habitat restoration is also a core part of the project. This includes replanting native vegetation, controlling invasive species, and ensuring takahē can access their natural food sources. Secure aviaries have been constructed to support breeding and acclimatization before the birds are released into the wild.
Ongoing monitoring and research continue to play a vital role. Researchers track the takahē’s movements, health, and breeding progress to ensure they are settling in well. This data helps refine conservation strategies and enables swift action if any issues arise.
Historical Impact
The takahē was once believed to be extinct until a small population was rediscovered in 1948 in the Murchison Mountains of Fiordland. This discovery sparked one of New Zealand's most significant conservation efforts aimed at saving the species from extinction. Historically, the takahē ranged widely across New Zealand, but their numbers declined sharply due to habitat destruction and the introduction of predators like stoats and rats.
Over the years, dedicated conservation programs have helped to increase the takahē population, but they remain critically endangered, with fewer than 500 birds in existence. Creating a sanctuary in the Rees Valley is a critical step in the long-term recovery plan for the species, aiming to establish new wild populations and increase genetic diversity.
The success of this project will contribute significantly to the conservation of the takahē and also provide valuable lessons for other endangered species recovery efforts.
How will we make it happen?
We are proud to have raised over $150k through our 2024 RealNZ Conservation Ball. These important funds will go toward creating a sanctuary in the Rees Valley and the eventual relocation of the takahē.
Do you want to help? You can make a donation below.
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