WovenStarr

12/10/2025

Hihi 👀

The Comeback of the Hihi – New Zealand’s Hidden Treasure

Once teetering on the edge of extinction, the hihi—or stitchbird—is one of New Zealand’s rarest and most remarkable native birds. Once widespread across the North Island, these tiny flashes of gold and black vanished from the mainland in the late 1800s, driven out by habitat loss and introduced predators. For nearly a century, just one small population survived on Little Barrier Island (Te Hauturu-o-Toi), keeping their song alive in the silence of an empty forest.

Thanks to tireless conservation work, hihi have been reintroduced to predator-free sanctuaries such as Tiritiri Matangi, Zealandia, and Maungatautari. Their numbers are now climbing—an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 birds exist today. But their survival is still fragile, relying on constant care, supplementary feeding, and genetic management to keep this species from slipping away again.

The hihi’s story is one of courage and hope—a symbol of what can happen when people unite to restore balance to nature. Each flutter in the canopy reminds us: extinction is not inevitable, but protection is essential.

12/10/2025

Beauti Kakapo

The Comeback of the Kākāpō — New Zealand’s Feathered Treasure

Once thought lost to extinction, the kākāpō — New Zealand’s giant, flightless parrot — has made an extraordinary comeback thanks to decades of dedicated conservation. These moss-green, nocturnal birds were once abundant across Aotearoa, roaming the forests and valleys long before humans arrived.

When Māori first settled the land, the kākāpō was hunted for food and its soft feathers, prized for weaving ceremonial cloaks. But the real devastation came with European colonisation — vast forests were cleared for farming, and new predators such as stoats, rats, cats, and dogs wiped out most of the population. By the 1970s, only a few were left clinging to survival in remote Fiordland and Stewart Island.

Thanks to passionate conservationists, the remaining birds were rescued and relocated to predator-free sanctuaries like Whenua Hou and Anchor Island. Each kākāpō is now monitored, named, and cared for as part of one of the most successful recovery efforts in wildlife history.

From the brink of extinction to more than 250 individuals, the kākāpō stands as a symbol of hope — proof that with care and commitment, nature can heal.

12/10/2025

Had to unwind abit to speak further about my journey as a takiwatanga mama Mauri Ora ☯️

12/10/2025

🧩

12/10/2025

lol so true aye sun 🌞

12/10/2025

🧩 🌙 ✨

30/03/2025

The shallow quake initially sparked warnings of “hazardous tsunami waves" but this was later assessed and lifted.