Conservation of Kaka in New Zealand

Kaka (Nestor meridionalis) populations have been declining in New Zealand since European occupation, largely because of predation and competition from introduced animals, forest destruction and fragmentation, and hunting pressure. They are now considered a threatened species. Kaka may be one of our most difficult species to manage because they continue to decline through the combined effects of competition and predation. The effects of these factors, and the rates of decline probably vary regionally. A workshop was convened to pool the knowledge of kaka workers, to review the conservation status of kaka, causes of decline, information needs and implications for management, to plan and prioritise research projects and to increase the awareness of Department of Conservation staff and the public by producing a document summarising the status of kaka. 1 PURPOSE OF MEETING 1.1 Background Kaka (Nestor meridionalis) populations have been declining in New Zealand since European occupation, largely because of predation and competition from introduced animals, forest destruction and fragmentation, and hunting pressure (Oliver 1955, O'Donnell and Dilks 1986, Beggs and Wilson 1991). Kaka are now rare in almost all districts of the North and South Islands, apart from localised concentrations in some large remaining areas of native forest (Moynihan et al. 1979, Ogle 1982, O'Donnell 1983, Saunders 1983, O'Donnell and Dilks 1986). and Gretchen and Research Division, Department of Conservation, The kaka is now classed as a "threatened" species; that is, it will probably be moved into the "endangered" category if factors causing its decline are not removed (Bell 1986). Kaka may be one of our most difficult species to manage. They occur in extensive forested areas of difficult terrain. Kaka appear to be declining because of the combined effect of competition and predation. The effects of these factors, and the rates of decline probably vary regionally. Because of these concerns, and because there are a number of research programmes currently under way proposed, the Department of Conservation held a meeting on kaka on 28 February 1991. 1.2 Objectives (a) To pool the knowledge of kaka workers. (b) To review the conservation status of kaka, causes of decline, information needs and implications for management. (c) To plan research by organising and ranking information needs and commencing the preparation of a conservation strategy. (d) To increase the awareness of Department of Conservation staff and the public by producing a document summarising the status of kaka. 1.3 Workshop participants Participants were those who have been working or intend to work on kaka conservation: Jacqueline Beggs, DSIR Land Resources, Nelson Alison Davis, Protected Species Policy Division, DOC, Wellington Stephen King, NZ Native Forests Restoration Trust, Auckland Brian Lloyd, Science & Research Division, DOC, Wellington Ron Moorhouse, Victoria University, Wellington Colin O'Donnell, Science & Research Division, DOC, Christchurch Gretchen Rasch, Threatened Species Unit, DOC, Wellington Alan Tennyson, Forest & Bird Protection Society, Wellington Richard Toft, DSIR Land Resources, Nelson Peter Wilson, DSIR Land Resources, Nelson 2 REVIEW OF KAKA DISTRIBUTION The current distribution and the status of kaka populations in each conservancy of the Department of Conservation were briefly summarised (Table 1). Kaka have declined throughout their range. They were abundant throughout indigenous forests when Europeans arrived in New Zealand but now are very rare in almost all areas.