Endangered native duck released onto Waimarino water

(From left) Rufus Bristol, Harata Tetawhero, Kenny Jones, Paora "Baldy" Haitana and Petuere Kiwara prepare to release whio onto the Manganui-o-te-Ao River. Photo/ supplied

The wild whio population on the Manganui o te Ao River was boosted with the release of 16 young ducks in February.

The native ducks were bred in three places and spent a month "hardening up" at Turangi before their release. They needed to get used to living and feeding on moving water.

More than 40 people were there for the release. There were 25 pupils from nearby Orautoha School, iwi members, local landowners and staff from Horizons Regional Council and Auckland Zoo.

Kaumatua and iwi leader Paora "Baldy" Haitana felt blessed to have his mokopuna Harata Tetawhero involved. Her joy and excitement warmed his heart.

As kaitiaki of his ancestral lands he wanted future generations to know they have a responsibility to protect at-risk native species and landscapes critical to tribal identity.

Mr Haitana said another critical species was the piharau (lamprey), once abundant and a delicacy but no longer thriving.

"Our whānau and hapū would welcome a piharau restoration programme like the successful whio and kiwi recovery projects."

The whio are being released into areas where more breeding pairs are needed, Conservation Department senior biodiversity ranger Dr Rachael Abbott said. The Manganui-o-te-Ao and Retaruke rivers are two of New Zealand's eight "whio security sites".

Intensive trapping is done there, to remove the stoats and feral cats that kill adult and juvenile whio. Each site should have 50 breeding pairs.

At the moment the Retaruke has 15 pairs and the Manganui-o-te-Ao has 14. There are also 17 single ducks and 30 juveniles across the two rivers.

Each pair needs about 1km of river, and they are fiercely territorial.

With fewer than 3000 left, whio (blue ducks) are more endangered than kiwi. They can only live on clean fast-flowing rivers with plenty of underwater insect life.

The Whio Forever initiative to restore their numbers is a joint one by the Conservation Department and Genesis Energy.