A breeding pair of critically endangered takahe will be released on Rotoroa Island in the Hauraki Gulf on Saturday.
Male bird Tiechelman, and female bird Silberhorn, both 17 months old, will be the first of five breeding pairs to be released on the island in the Hauraki Gulf, where Auckland Zoo and the Rotoroa Island Trust have partnered to create a wildlife reserve.
The two birds were expected to breed within the next two years.
As the birds are highly endangered, Auckland Zoo has been working in partnership with the international Conservation Breeding Specialist Group and the Department of Conservation (DoC) to help develop a population management plan for takahe.
Auckland Zoo director Jonathan Wilcken said there were just 270 takahe in the world.
"While we know there's no single New Zealand site large enough to recover this iconic species on its own, collectively, lots of smaller sites, including islands like Rotoroa, can work together to ensure their future," he said. Rotoroa Island Trust chairman Barrie Brown said Rotoroa was delighted to be welcoming and assisting takahe.
"It's wonderful that Rotoroa can provide a haven for these takahe to grow, breed and produce chicks to then help populate other selected safe North Island sites.
"Takahe will be the sixth wildlife species we've introduced to the island in the past 12 months."
The pair of birds were being fitted with transmitters and would be monitored closely by Auckland Zoo and Rotoroa Island staff.NZME.