Every five years, Kiwi Coast Trust works with communities and hapū across Northland to investigate the presence of kākā and korimako / bellbird. This year kākāriki were added to the survey. This is the third five-yearly Kiwi Coast Indicator Species Survey, following the initial baseline in 2016 and the second survey in 2021.
The three bird species are currently rare on the Northland mainland but exist in good numbers on the nearby offshore islands. It is hoped that over time they will naturally re-establish on the mainland in response to the significant amount of pest control being carried out by the groups and projects linked in to Kiwi Coast.
The survey is part of the Kiwi Coast’s long-term ‘Indicator Species Monitoring Programme’, which aims to show some of the biodiversity outcomes from the region-wide pest control effort. Kākā, korimako and kākāriki were selected as indicator species because they are highly conspicuous, easily identifiable and much loved by many people across Te Tai Tokerau. All currently visit some Northland areas sporadically, especially in winter when island food sources are low. By conducting the survey in summer, it is expected that any birds detected will be permanent residents rather than temporary visitors.
Kiwi Coast’s Southern Coordinator, Katie Gibb led the survey, and has now completed an interim report which can be downloaded here.
Katie said:
“Survey fieldwork got underway in January 2026. An unusually stormy summer, however, disrupted the season: repeated storms closed or damaged tracks, made some sites impossible to reach safely, and pushed a number of surveys outside the January–early-March window when detectability is highest and resident birds can be distinguished from winter visitors.”
Photo: Kiwi Coast & NRC fieldwork crew test monitoring protocols at Bream Head
Fieldwork was completed at 17 of the 40 sites before the season closed, a little under half of the round. The remaining sites will be completed in 2027.
Katie reports:
“Across the 17 sites surveyed this season, korimako were detected at two locations and kākā at one. Bream Head Scenic Reserve, the one known mainland stronghold, returned both species, and provided the first quantitative counts using an extra survey method. Eight kākā and 4 korimako recorded at count station, with kākā detected repeatedly through the morning. Korimako were also detected at Mangawhai Cliffs (up to 3 birds), re-confirming the korimako recorded there in 2021.
Kākā were found only at Bream Head during formal survey time, and kākāriki were not detected at any of the sites surveyed. Two incidental (non-survey) records are worth noting: kākā were heard in the evening at Manaia Ridge Scenic Reserve (24 and 27 February) and over the ridge at Taurikura Ridge (24 February), both sites immediately neighbouring Bream Head, and both places where kākā were recorded in the 2016 baseline.”
Katie summarised the survey work to date by saying:
“So far, kākā and korimako remain largely restricted to the Bream Head area, consistent with previous surveys, with korimako also holding at Mangawhai Cliffs and promising signs of kākā ranging into neighbouring sites. We look forward to completing the survey this summer to see if we can detect these special birds at further sites.”
Photo credits: Malcolm Pullman and Hilton Ward
