First kākāpō chick in four years hatches on Valentine’s Day

The first kākāpō chick in four years has hatched on Pukenui/Anchor Island, marking an emotional start to the 2026 breeding season for one of the world’s rarest birds. The chick, known as Tīwhiri-1A, emerged from its shell on Valentine’s Day in the nest of foster mum Yasmine, after the egg was transferred from biological mother Tīwhiri.

The arrival lifts the total number of kākāpō to 237, although the chick will only be formally added to the population once it successfully fledges. For conservationists, the hatching is a significant milestone in the long-running recovery of the critically endangered species.

According to the Department of Conservation, the moment is especially meaningful given the long gaps between breeding seasons. Kākāpō typically breed only once every two to four years, triggered by the mass fruiting of rimu trees. The last mast event occurred in 2022.

DOC Operations Manager for kākāpō and takahē Deidre Vercoe described the first chick of the season as an exciting step on what remains a challenging road to recovery. This year, more birds are of breeding age than ever before, raising hopes for a strong season ahead.

So far, 187 eggs have been laid, with 74 confirmed fertile. However, low hatch rates and chick survival remain major obstacles. Not every fertile egg will hatch, and not every chick will make it to fledging.

The species’ precarious history still shapes today’s conservation strategy. In the 1990s, the entire kākāpō population fell to just 51 birds, creating a severe genetic bottleneck that scientists are still managing decades later.

Each adult kākāpō, 236 in total, now wears a small backpack radio transmitter so rangers can monitor movements and behaviour. The birds are spread across three predator-free island populations: Whenua Hou/Codfish Island near Rakiura, and Fiordland’s Pukenui/Anchor Island and Te Kāhaku/Chalky Island.

Because numbers remain low, breeding seasons involve careful intervention. Eggs and chicks are sometimes fostered between mothers to improve survival chances. Kākāpō mums generally have the best outcomes raising no more than two chicks. This season, Tīwhiri had four fertile eggs, while experienced foster mum Yasmine had none, making the transfer a strategic move to boost overall success.

Conservation teams prioritise eggs and chicks from birds that are underrepresented in the gene pool, while taking a more hands-off approach with well-represented lines. The aim is to strengthen genetic diversity while gradually learning what a more natural breeding season might look like in the future.

For Ngāi Tahu, the milestone carries deep cultural meaning. Tāne Davis, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu’s representative on the Kākāpō Recovery Group, said the hatching on Pukenui/Anchor Island highlights the importance of predator-free sanctuaries for taonga species.

While the island currently provides a safe haven, long-term aspirations include expanding protected habitats and, through Predator Free Rakiura, eventually returning kākāpō to their original home on Rakiura.

A long-term partnership

The Kākāpō Recovery Programme has operated since 1995 in partnership with Ngāi Tahu. Over 30 years and 12 breeding seasons, the population has grown from just 51 birds to a high of 252 in 2022.

Since 2016, the programme has also been supported by national partner Meridian Energy. CEO Mike Roan said welcoming the first chick of the season signals what conservationists hope will be a bumper year.

Each new chick remains a fragile but vital step toward securing the future of one of Aotearoa’s most iconic and elusive species.

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