Tāiko Conservation

Although officially formed in 2006, the Trusts roots go back to the 1970’s when local land owners Manuel and Evelyn Tuanui teamed up with visiting ornithologist David Crockett to rediscover taiko in the south west corner of Main Chatham. Growing from this the Trust has continued as a partnership between local landowners and New Zealand based conservationists to protect and conserve the endemic wildlife of the Chatham Islands. Surrounded by sea the Trust has a strong focus of seabird conservation, with our key projects currently focused on saving some of the world’s most endangered seabird species.

The Trust has been at the forefront of Tāiko conservation, from their initial rediscovery, locating the breeding grounds to establish a secure breeding area at Sweetwater to enable the population to increase. Since 2015 in partnership with the Department of Conservation the Trust has also been managing Tāiko conservation within the Tuku Nature Reserve and adjoining areas of private land where Tāiko breed. Conservation efforts are focused on protecting breeding habitat, predator control, and further transfers of some chicks into Sweetwater to develop a protected population secure within the predator proof fence.