Three kaka are the latest wildlife addition to Boundary Stream as DoC's relocation programme for the area continues.
Last week 29 kakariki were the first to be released into the area as part of the Poutiri Ao o Tane project, designed to see the return of native species to Hawke's Bay.
On Wednesday a second addition of three kaka were brought to the area for a "soft release" from Mt Bruce, near Masterton. They are the second species to be relocated to Boundary Stream, but will remain in an aviary until just after Christmas.
Kaka are considered a vulnerable species and are victim to predation throughout the country.
DoC programme manager Barbara Curtis said they were "behaving beautifully", ripping the vegetation in their new enclosure to shreds.
"They're doing everything kaka should do," she said. "We've got volunteers now who will come and help us feed them on a regular basis."
When ready, the door to the aviary would be opened and they'd be free to come and go as they pleased.
"This is what we call a soft release. These kaka are captive-reared birds so they're very used to an aviary. Eventually they'll just acclimatise and be out, and be happy.
" We'll look after them in the aviary until just after Christmas, we hope. It just depends on how the guys think they're going and whether they're ready."
There are currently kaka living in the wild at Boundary Stream, but numbers were low, and as a result of the relocation she hoped there would be "more and more young kaka coming through".
She said DoC was also looking for volunteers to help care for the birds while they were living in the aviary.
Poutiri Ao o Tane is a collaborative project encompassing locals individuals, iwi, councils and businesses.