The New Zealand kākā (Nestor meridionalis) is a large species of parrot of the family Strigopidae found in New Zealand's native forests across the three main Islands of New Zealand. Two subspecies of New Zealand kākā are recognised. It is endangered and has disappeared from much of its former range, though the re-introduction of North Island kākā at Zealandia in Wellington has led to an increasing population of the birds across the city.
Flocks of boisterous kākā gather early morning and late evening to socialise – their amusing antics and raucous voice led Māori to refer to them as chattering and gossiping.
When Europeans first arrived in New Zealand, they found kākā in abundance throughout the forests of both islands, but by 1930 the birds were localised to a few areas.
Today, they are still reasonably common in the Whirinaki and Pureora Forest Parks, the Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project area, along the Milford Track, and in the Eglinton Valley in Fiordland National Park where there is effective predator control. Where there is no pest control, numbers are thought to be declining. Many large forested areas are almost empty of kākā.
The North Island kākā, nevertheless, can be found in good numbers on some offshore islands, especially Tiritiri Matangi, Aotea/Great Barrier Island, Kapiti Island and, increasingly, within Wellington city.
The South Island sub-species is still widespread, becoming progressively more common from Nelson (where it is relatively rare) down the West Coast to Fiordland. South Island kākā are also found around Halfmoon Bay (Stewart Island), Ulva Island and on Whenua Hou/Codfish Island.
The cache is near the information board welcoming you to Abel Tasman National Park. There was once an intentions book here but maybe with most people having cellphones these days that is thought to be no longer necessary. However, if you are intending to go more than a little way into the park, do let someone know where you are going and when you intend to be back - - just in case.
The cache is not at the info board but is under the strainer post stay 13 metres away on a bearing of 293o.
Captive bred kākā were first released into Abel Tasman National Park in 2015. At the time a few wild male kākā were believed to still be present in the Park but the females were typically killed by predators while on the nest so they were considered to be functionally extinct in the park. Rangers and members of Project Janszoon entered the park along this track, placing the birds first of all in a specially built cage at Wainui hut until they became acclimatised and then giving them their freedom.
The kākā population had another boost in spring 2019 when 24 were released at Bark Bay/Wairima on the Abel Tasman Coast. Some of these birds were taken as eggs or chicks from wild nests in the Nelson Lakes or Kahurangi National Parks and hand raised in captivity.
In total, 35 of these entertaining forest parrots have been released into the park. The population is intensively monitored and there is evidence that successful breeding is increasing as the population establishes.
Kākā along the coast of the Abel Tasman is evidence the work of Project Janszoon, DOC and their partners is having a significant effect on biodiversity in the Abel Tasman National Park.
You could use this track to access Wainui Hut or alternatively walk in along the track which is accessed from near the top of the Takaka hill and goes past Harewood's hole.