23 February 2013
Rare ducks released into Milford Track
Kevin Evans Releases A Pateke Into The Arthur Valley
Seventy-four endangered pateke (brown teal) were released into the Arthur Valley on the Milford Track on Thursday, 21
February as a result of a new Great Walk conservation initiative between the Department of Conservation and Air New
Zealand.
The pateke release is part of the wider Air New Zealand Great Walks Biodiversity Project – a $1 million dollar
conservation initiative that aims to restore bird life and habitats along DOC’s Great Walks, including the Milford
Track.
As well as funding the pateke release, the Air New Zealand Great Walks Biodiversity Project is supporting increased
predator control along the Milford Track.
The density of stoat traps along the track has been doubled over the past few months and possum and rat control is being
established in part of the Clinton Valley.
The more intensive predator control will protect vulnerable species, such as kiwi, that still exist in the area, and
allow other threatened species, such as pateke and takahe to be returned to the area.
DOC Te Anau’s area manager Reg Kemper says the partnership will mean that New Zealand and international visitors will be
able to walk among some of the world’s rarest birds on one of the world’s best tracks.
‘The pateke are the first vulnerable species to be returned as part of this partnership. Next year, we’re hoping to
release takahe to the Milford Track – this will be the first time in living memory takahe have been back in the Clinton
Valley.”
“To be able to encounter one of the world’s rarest birds in its natural environment will only underline the
international reputation of the Milford Track.”
Air New Zealand’s Head of Sponsorship and Community James Gibson says investing in this conservation project is a
natural fit for Air New Zealand.
“Supporting these biodiversity projects encourages richer bird life on New Zealand’s signature walking tracks and
improves the overall experience for domestic and international tourists alike.”
The pateke released on the Milford Track last week are part of a six-year project to re-establish a pateke population in
the South Island. Pateke were present in the Arthur Valley until the 1990s, but were lost from the area due to predation
by introduced predators, particularly stoats. The first release of pateke into the Arthur Valley occurred in 2009.
Pateke are the rarest waterfowl on the New Zealand mainland. Re-establishing a pateke population on the Milford track is
an important step to secure the species nationally.
–Ends–