Richie McCaw takes flight for the critically-threatened kākāriki

Wednesday, 18 October 2017

Richie McCaw is backing conservation efforts for orange-fronted parakeet, also known as the kākāriki.

The country's rarest parakeet has found a celebrity backer as its population slowly comes back from the brink of extinction.

Former All Black captain Richie McCaw was at the controls of an orange-fronted parakeet-themed helicopter when it landed at Christchurch's Addington Raceway for the 'Save Canterbury's Kākāriki' event on Wednesday.

About 300 orange-fronted parakeet now live in the wild, mostly on predator-free islands or in beech-clad valleys near Arthur's Pass and Lake Sumner in Canterbury.

The company he part-owns, Christchurch Helicopters, has partnered with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to protect the species, which is one of our most threatened.

It was once found throughout New Zealand, but the orange-fronted parakeet, also called kākāriki, quickly declined in numbers due to predation and habitat clearance.

The company McCaw part-owns, Christchurch Helicopters, will help the Department of Conservation's efforts to preserve the kākāriki.

The species has been declared extinct twice, but they are now known to number about 300 in the wild, primarily in beech-clad valleys near Arthur's Pass and Lake Sumner, as well as small populations on predator-free islands.

The small, green birds have a distinctive orange band above their beaks. It is the rarest of the country's six parakeet species.

Christchurch Helicopters would supply its helicopters to transport DOC workers to and from the remote valleys where the birds live.

'Our organisation is dedicated to assisting DOC to help it secure the survival of this rare parakeet and create the legacy we wish to leave for future generations,' Christchurch Helicopters chief executive Terry Murdoch said.

The company would also help DOC fundraise for events and donate to specific projects for the species' recovery.

The species has been helped by a successful breeding programme led by the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust.

It had raised and released about 400 birds since 2003.

Despite coming back from near extinction, the species was still at high risk.

'Orange-fronted parakeets are in serious trouble but with focused conservation efforts and the support of others, we believe we can save the species,' DOC South Island operations director Andy Roberts said.

'The partnership with Christchurch Helicopters will directly support activities to enhance the parakeet population and protect it from predators.'

The event was part of Conservation Week, which ends on Sunday.