Kia ora e te whanau, mahana atu ki a koutou,
Saturday 02/03/2024 had the Department of Conservation and a small team chosen by Tawapata South Inc to bless the release of the Tūturuatu onto Waikawa. The last translocation was completed 20 Jan 2023, where an updated report was provided on Saturday, 1 of 18 birds has remained on the island but breeding into the existing population DOC said.
Another 18 birds have been translocated, from the Chatham Islands, from which eggs are used, the manu are hand reared at the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust in Christchurch, translocated are manu in boxes from Christchurch to Napier to Waikawa.
The teams consisted of DOC rangers and their volunteers, to set up the temporary aviary, receive the birds and document the Tūturuatu’s well-being, The Tawapata South Inc team, were there to document the blessing of the manu before entering the aviary.
This Saturday 09/03/2024 is an opportunity to sight these manu leaving the aviary to the island for all available shareholders and their whanau. Please contact Tawapata South Inc to organise the logistics of all who will participate in this unique memory. Contact us through the contacts page on this website.
Ngā mihi,
Marina
