New home for pair of rare takahe

Two 18-month-old takahe are exploring their new home on an island in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf after being air-lifted from a South Island sanctuary for critically endangered native birds.

The birds were brought to Rotoroa Island from the DOC rearing unit near Te Anau as part of the Mitre 10-supported Takahe Recovery Programme.

As they were released from special flight crates, the birds' bright plumage looked like they were wearing Hawaiian shirts for much warmer weather than they had left behind in the Deep South.

DOC staff carry two takahe birds from the helicopter after a long trip from the South Island. Photo / Jason Dorday

The female, named Silberhorn, rushed straight from the box to the cover of grass and flax, while the male, Teichelman, sauntered out, looked around and strutted over to the nearest bush.

"They ran up a hill and were last spotted on a grass patch way up and are expected to spend the whole night exploring the island and taking a little time to settle," said a spokeswoman for Auckland Zoo,which is working with DOC and the International Conservation Breeding Specialist Group on establishing more takahe breeding sites.

There are 70 breeding pairs of takahe around New Zealand.

Takahe are the sixth wildlife species introduced to the island since the Rotoroa Island Trust and the zoo joined forces to make it a pest-free wildlife reserve, funded by $4 million from the Hutton Wilson Charitable Trust.