The second batch of translocated kākāpō were released into the 3400ha protected forest habitat earlier this month.
The kākāpō came off Codfish Island, Anchor Island and Chalky Island.
The Department of Conservation and Ngāi Tahu are investigating new habitat for kākāpō in a bid to reduce pressure on predator-free islands ahead of future breeding seasons for the ground-dwelling forest parrots.
Doc kākāpō recovery operations manager Deidre Vercoe said the new population at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari would provide vital data to help support one of the programme’s long-term goals –— to return kākāpō to their natural range throughout New Zealand.
"By monitoring these birds over the next decade or so, we’ll know whether a larger kākāpō population could one day thrive and even breed on this mainland site," she said.
"It’s too soon to know how kākāpō will do here long-term, but so far they seemed to be settling in well.
"The first four all passed their health checks, and we are happy with how they have adapted to the new habitat. The latest translocation brings the total population to 10 males with a range of ages. This will be important as the younger males learn from the older birds."
July’s translocation marked the first time in 40 years kākāpō had lived on the mainland of New Zealand.
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari biodiversity team leader Dr Janelle Ward said having a further six kākāpō joining the sanctuary was incredibly special and a testament to the work put in by the community.
After the July release, the first four kākāpō spent time exploring and getting to know their new terrain.
Kākāpō last lived on mainland New Zealand in the 1980s — the remnant of a small group of wild birds found living in Fiordland in the 1970s.
The last time they were present on the North Island was in the 1960s when five birds were in captivity at Mt Bruce.
The 10 kākāpō are all males and will not yet breed at Maungatautari. The main focus is learning what types of new habitat outside of the established offshore islands kākāpō can live in.
The total kākāpō population is 247 at present.
