Major boost for New Zealand’s rarest waterfowl

Eighty pateke released into national park

March 2011: Eighty pateke, New Zealand's rarest waterfowl, have just been released into Fiordland National Park.

RELEASE SCHEME: Once common, pateke numbers are now critically low, although the bird is making a comeback, thanks to conservation efforts

The captive reared pateke– or brown teal, as they are otherwise known – were flown into the Arthur Valley area near Milford and released, thanks to a partnership between the Fiordland Conservation Trust and the Department of Conservation.

DOC Te Anau Biodiversity Ranger Andrew Smart said over the past two years 59 pateke have been released into the Arthur Valley, so this most recent release is a significant increase and is the only one occurring in the South Island.

‘This project would not be possible without the nationwide effort and support of our partners including Ultimate Hikes, Otago Community Trust, Peacock Springs and the captive breeders,' Rachel Cockburn, Manager for the Fiordland Conservation Trust said.

Numbers fell to just 660
The ducks have been flown from Christchurch to Queenstown by Air New Zealand and then driven to Milford Sound. From there, a helicopter took them on to the release site. 

Pateke were once New Zealand's most abundant waterfowl. However a combination of predation, loss of habitat and cross-breeding with mallards and grey ducks, meant numbers declined to a low of approximately only 660 birds in 2001. Over the past few years their numbers have increased through a number of successful releases and predator control in natural sites. There are now approximately 2,000-2,500 individuals.

‘Pateke were once relatively common in Fiordland but have been decimated - mainly by stoats - so it's great to see then back. Through ongoing predator control and releases they are making a comeback. We hope to see some ducklings in the near future and secure this species once again in Fiordland,' Mr Smart said.

‘The aim of this project is to establish a self-sustaining population of pateke in the Arthur Valley. This large release will be a considerable step forward to reaching this goal.'

This release is part of a nationwide programme to secure pateke from extinction. The Fiordland work is an integral part of this work, due to the size of habitat being protected and its location in New Zealand's largest National Park.