Fresh water life species released for regeneration

Some of the koura were rescued from a section of stream that was removed to make way for a large pipeline. Photo / Department of Conservation

Two threatened species of native fish have been released as part of a wildlife regeneration project on pest free Motutapu Island off Auckland.

Redfin bullies - New Zealand's most colourful native fish - and native crayfish, or koura, were released in Home Bay Stream on November 26.

The release was the latest in a series of Department of Conservation moves transplanting at-risk native wildlife onto Motutapu and neighbouring Rangitoto Island.

Pests including rats, stoats and possums were eradicated from the islands earlier this year.

Endangered Takahe and Saddleback birds were released when they were declared pest free wildlife sancturaries on August 27.

DOC ranger Callum Bourke said 120 crayfish and 120 redfin bullies were part of the latest release.

Some had been rescued from a section of stream that had been removed to make way for a large pipeline, he said.

"DOC was alerted to their fate by Ngai Tai and managed to retrieve some redfin bullies and koura before they were killed or displaced by the pipeline work. It's fantastic they now have a safe new home on Motutapu."