KEY POINTS:
They may have faces only a mother could love but four wrinkly, knobbly babies have conservationists at Maungatautari, near Cambridge, almost tearful with joy.
Ecologist Chris Smuts-Kennedy said there was absolute euphoria when four kaka chicks were found in a breeding enclosure on the mountain, the first babies of their kind in the Waikato for at least 50 years.
Now members of the Maungatautari Trust say they may be on track to help rescue the cheeky birds from their long decline.
Mr Smuts-Kennedy said only a few thousand North Island kaka were left. Outside sanctuaries such as Maungatautari, numbers were falling as stoats continued to eat nesting female kaka.
He said that eventually, kaka would breed only inside protected areas. Conservationists hope creating fenced, predator-proof zones will give kaka enough safe breeding space to keep them roaming the country.
The friendly forest birds travel long distances looking for food, so they need more breeding space than some sanctuaries can provide.
At 3400ha, the forest on Maungatautari mountain is big enough for the adventurous birds, as is Great Barrier Island.
But until now, kaka borrowed from Auckland Zoo to breed at Maungatautari have not co-operated.
Mr Smuts-Kennedy said noisy, squawking kaka were so visible people often thought there were plenty left. But the birds people saw were almost always males, making long winter journeys to search for food.
He admitted the new babies were not beautiful but he said it was "one of those caterpillar-to-butterfly situations". The grown birds would be glossy and charming.
Parents Wildone and Mia will keep an eye on their chicks for six months, after which it is hoped the youngsters will settle on the mountain.
Ten adult kaka have been released on Maungatautari, each spending time in an aviary while becoming accustomed to the new home.
Takahe, kiwi and kokopu have also been released inside Maungatautari's 47km predator-proof fence.
Kokako, tuatara, stitchbird (hihi) saddleback, robins, rifleman, kakariki and whiteheads are also on the list to be introduced.
