A 10 dollar note is the closest most New Zealanders will get to a whio duck but one lucky group of Stratford Primary School (SPS) pupils recently had the chance to get up close and personal with the endangered species.
Six members of the SPS Tuis Environmental Group experienced this rare opportunity last Friday when they were invited by the Department of Conservation to a whio duck release on Mount Taranaki.
"It was such a great experience, it was so amazing watching the birds be released," says Ella Coulton (12), environmental group head of department.
For Jake White (8) and Masyon Austin (10) the experience provided valuable information.
"We are doing a project on whio ducks at the moment so it was great getting to learn lots of facts about them," says Jake.