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'Slow progress': Hopes for a bumper kakapo breeding season

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 7 Jan 2026, 9:29am
(Janice McKenna)
(Janice McKenna)

'Slow progress': Hopes for a bumper kakapo breeding season

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 7 Jan 2026, 9:29am

Conservationists are expecting a lot of breeding action from threatened kakapo over the next month.  

The nocturnal, flightless parrots reproduce in tune with rimu, which have a mast season of extra growth every three or four years. 

The Department of Conservation says there are 83 breeding-aged females this season, up from 55. 

Kakapo Recovery Manager Deidre Vercoe told Andrew Dickens this year's mast is looking great. 

She says this is when there is more fruit on the tree, and this year they have the most in 28 years. 

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