Over 30 of NZ's threatened blue ducks being released

Less than 2500 whio are left in New Zealand. Photo / File / Turangi Chronicle

More than 30 of New Zealand's threatened blue ducks are being released back into the wild over the next week.

The whio or blue ducks were bred in captivity as part of a five-year breeding programme involving whio from rivers around the central North island.

Today, six were released in the Tongariro area - four into the Tongariro River and two into the Whakapapanui Stream.

This season, 45 whio ducklings were bred at the programme's three sites at Pukaha Mt Bruce Wildlife Park, Orana Wildlife Park and Peacock Springs in Christchurch.

Less than 2500 whio are left in New Zealand.

Representatives from the Department of Conservation and Genesis Energy - which are working together for the whio breeding programme - and Tongariro River Rafting were on hand for today's whio release.

Students from Hastings Intermediate, who were attending the Kiwi Forever week-long programme, and a group from the Blue Duck Project Trust were also present.

A further 16 fledglings are due to be released on Thursday into the Waiwhakaiho River in Egmont National Park, with 11 more due to be released next week at Manganui o te Ao River in the Whanganui National Park.

This month is "Whio Forever" month, which celebrates the national project aimed at protecting whio breeding areas and habitat.