NZ’s third falcon breeding programme established in Timaru

Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Angie Tidy, Ursula Adeane, Jenni Fraser and Ron Lindsay together with Willow the harrier hawk at the NZ Raptor Trust site in Timaru on Wednesday.

The Timaru-based New Zealand Raptor Trust has secured a permit to establish a captive breeding programme for the endangered kārearea/New Zealand falcon.

The Department of Conservation issued the trust with a Permanent Captive Holding for Species Management permit allowing it to develop a falcon captive breeding programme, the third of its type in the country.

Trust chairperson Jenni Fraser said the breeding programme aimed to ensure falcons not suitable for release were paired to breed chicks and help improve population numbers.

“We hope this programme makes a difference in the number of falcons in the country,” Fraser said.

“At the moment we are looking at four breeding pairs in the facility but our plans include room for expansion.

Ron Lindsay pictured with Willow on Wednesday. The trust is fundraising to build a habitat for a pair of soon-to-be resident falcons.

“We are very happy we have got the permit and now this can be an additional education aspect when people come to visit the trust.”

She said fundraising was under way to get the breeding facility up and running for its first two soon-to-be resident falcons, Stella and Jet.

Fraser said the programme gained momentum with the arrival of Stella, who was found injured at Cannington, South Canterbury, in 2023.

Stella was assessed by the NZ Raptor Trust and spent weeks in intensive care as she recovered, but ongoing health issues meant she could not be released back into the wild.

She now lived at the Kārearea Falcon Trust in Blenheim, where she had partnered with Jet.

Concept drawings of the breeding enclosures to be created at the NZ Raptor Trust site in Timaru.

“With any luck, the upcoming breeding season [from October to March] will bring the pitter-patter of tiny talons,” Fraser said.

“We have the permit, we have the birds … All we need now is a completed facility.”

She said containers that would provide the main frame and structure of the breeding facility were already on site.

The next stage was to convert those into the perfect home.

The trust was seeking sponsorship and funding for the next step from individuals, groups, clubs, whānau and businesses.

Donations could be made through a Givealittle page or via the donations page on the NZ Raptor Trust website.