Where takahē live
Introduction
You can meet a takahē at several sites around the country. In the wild, takahē only exist in the Murchison Mountains, Fiordland National Park and more recently Gouland Downs in Kahurangi National Park.
Outside of the wild populations, takahē live at sanctuary sites. With the exception of the Burwood Takahē Centre, Cape Sanctuary, and two privately owned islands, sanctuary sites are open to the public.
Takahē at public sites are our ambassadors, providing opportunities for you to admire and learn more about these amazing 'pre-historic' looking birds.
Auckland Zoo
The public can view takahē up close at Auckland Zoo.
Burwood Takahē Centre
The centre was purpose built in 1985 as an incubation and hand rearing facility and is famous for historically using puppets and models to rear takahē chicks. It is not open to the public.
Cape Sanctuary
Cape Sanctuary is a privately-owned and funded 2,500 ha restoration site situated on three properties on the Cape Kidnappers/Te Kauwae-a-Māui Peninsula. It is not open to the public.
Kahurangi National Park
Gouland Downs in Kahurangi National Park could be home to the first wild population of takahē outside their Murchison Mountain refuge. It's open to the public.
Kapiti Island
Only an hour from Wellington, the Kapiti Island Nature Reserve has a unique environment populated with birds and wildlife rarely seen on the mainland. It's open to the public.
Mana Island
Mana has a longstanding history with takahē recovery, being the first secure island site establish to facilitate takahē breeding, and remains to be one of the most productive ones. Mana Island is open to visitors between 8 am and 5 pm.
Mana Island Scientific Reserve
Maungatautari Ecological Island
Maungatautari is known as a mainland island and located in the Waikato. It's open to the public.
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari website
Murchison Mountains
The remote alpine tussock basins of the Murchison Mountains on the western side of Lake Te Anau hid the takahē for 50 years until their rediscovery in 1948.
Following the rediscovery, the Murchison Mountains were declared a 'takahē special area', off limits to all except a few scientists and deer cullers. It is not open to the public.
Orokonui Ecosanctuary
The ecosanctuary is a biodiversity project near Dunedin where multiple species of plants and animals are protected from predators. It's open to the public.
Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre
The centre is an unfenced sanctuary for native wildlife in the Wairarapa. It's open to the public.
Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre website
Punanga Manu O Te Anau / Te Anau Bird Sanctuary
This bird sanctuary is located on the shores of Lake Te Anau and is open to the public.
Punanga Manu O Te Anau / Te Anau Bird Sanctuary
Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary
Located a 90-minute drive north of Auckland the sanctuary encompasses the Tāwharanui Peninsula. It's open to the public.
Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary website
Tiritiri Matangi, Motutapu, Rotoroa islands
Takahē are found on predator free islands in the Hauraki Gulf including Tiritiri Matangi, Motutapu, and Rotoroa islands. The public can visit the islands.
Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary
Located in Taupō this golf course and sanctuary is open to the public.
Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary website
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
Located in Christchurch this reserve is open to the public.
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve website
Zealandia
Zealandia is a conservation project and attraction in Wellington where the biodiversity of 225 ha of forest is being restored. It's open to the public.
