The native endangered birds were released on to 18,000ha of leasehold land in the Rees Valley, an hour and a-half out of Queenstown.
Preparation for the birds’ new home was started three years ago by Southern Lakes Sanctuary (SLS), which undertook a major predator control operation with help from the Department of Conservation (Doc), Ngāi Tahu, Rees Valley Station, Temple Peak Station, Mt Earnslaw Station and Fulton Hogan.
Since 2022, a total of 596 traps have removed 1947 predators, including feral cats, stoats and rats — the traps have been checked 5722 times.
The takahē travelled from Burwood Takahē Centre, near Te Anau, and Orokonui Ecosanctuary Dunedin with Doc takahē rangers, pausing at Glenorchy Primary School to give pupils a chance to greet the birds and welcome them to the area.
SLS project director Paul Kavanagh said the Upper Wakatipu catchment area had the potential to sustain a population of up to 500 birds, and more than double the national number in the Rees Valley alone could be possible within the next 10 years.
"However, to achieve this, we need to give these taonga the best fighting chance by continually decreasing predator numbers."
Doc takahē recovery senior ranger Glen Greaves said the robust pest control in the Rees was reassuring.
"We hope people walking the Rees-Dart track and Routeburn tracks will soon have a good chance of seeing takahē thriving in their natural wild habitat."
The huge effort was possible with the help of local sponsors such as RealNZ and Impact 100 Wakatipu.
Last year, RealNZ raised more than $150,000 at its annual conservation ball to support the translocation of the takahē.
Chief executive Dave Beeche said it was "incredible" to see the real-world impact this funding and conservation work represented.
Impact100 Wakatipu gave $100,000 towards the re-homing effort, which will go towards an outback hut, the Impact100 Turk.
Chairwoman Clare Irons said the hut would allow sanctuary project staff and rangers to stay overnight and ensure the takahē were thriving.
A further two takahē releases into the Rees Valley are planned for later this year, aiming to establish a population of up to 80 takahē in the Rees Valley in 2025.
