The Chatham Island tui translocation

One from the archives! By the 1990s Chatham Island tūī had all but disappeared from the main island. Slightly different to their mainland counterparts these songbirds had survived on nearby Pitt and Rangatira islands. So a local conservation group decided to try bring them back. In this episode from 2010 Alison Ballance joins the ‘tūī team’ tasked with moving 40 birds from Rangatira island back to the main island.
To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following:
See terms of use.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

RNZ News

9 hours ago

• RNZ News

New mapping technology to help Auckland Council combat major flooding events

Lidar imagery showing detailed river bed and bush. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Council Cutting edge mapping technology is helping Auckland Council combat major flooding events, like the 2023 Anniversary Weekend floods . A low flying EC120 helicopter equipped with Light Detection and Ranging sensors (Lidar) has been mapping the city's critical waterways, creating virtual walkthroughs of stream networks that will help detect environmental changes and identify where infrastructure upgrades are needed. It's part of the council's Making Space for Water (MSFW) programme, aimed at enhancing flood resistance across Auckland. Auckland Council's healthy waters manager Craig Mcilroy said the technology was like progressing from X-ray to MRI for the environment, capturing the health of a catchment's stormwater network. "By using Lidar technology, we're obtaining a level of detail we've never had before," he said. "This data will help us visualise and understand the intricacies of Auckland's waterways in a way that hasn't been possible, right down to individual trees, slips, and bank conditions. It will equip us to tackle the challenges of urban flooding and climate change head-on." "It's a game-changer for managing flood risks and ensuring the city's resilience for future generations," Mcilroy said. So far about 560 square kilometres of the city's north and west has been mapped with high-resolution data, covering areas from Matakana and Whangateau in the north, to the urban catchments of Meola, Swanson and Henderson Creeks, Whenuapai and the North Shore. With laser-point densities reaching 250 points per square metre, the resulting datasets are over 20 times more detailed than Auckland's current regional Lidar data. The stormwater network data collection is being led by Auckland Council principal of waterways planning Danny Klimetz with support from Professor James Brasington, director of the Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management at Canterbury University, with Christchurch Helicopters providing air support. "These datasets are essential for building accurate flood models, tracking erosion, and planning for the future of Auckland's waterways," Professor Brasington said. Lidar imagery showing precision of the technology. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Council Danny Klimetz is the original concept designer and brings a wealth of experience to the project. He said the undertaking highlighted the value of collaborative innovation. "Drawing from my work in the United States, it's satisfying to see we've been able to adapt this method and apply it here to New Zealand's unique landscape," Klimetz said. "With Lidar, we're creating a detailed digital elevation model that not only defines catchment shapes but also identifies vegetation, erosion, and blockages. This clarity is critical for informed decision-making and long-term planning." "By collaborating with experts like those at the University of Canterbury, we're setting a new benchmark for how councils can manage water systems effectively," he said. Lidar technology has a wide variety of applications, including Agriculture, Archaeology, Spaceflight and Law enforcement with Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown saying he's been using Lidar in his own companies for years. He said the council would be implementing many more innovation and technology initiatives in the coming years. "I'm also keen to get on with rolling out AI in the council so we can keep up with business around us," he said. "Growth in the technology sector is a core focus of work in my refreshed manifesto. This is also part of our plan to modernise services. We must make better use of technology to make the council faster and more efficient. "The Making Space for Water programme will be more effective and developed faster because of this; it's another move that will help build physical and financial resilience into Auckland for future generations," Brown said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

RNZ News

a day ago

• RNZ News

Genetic marker found for rare children's brain disease

A New Zealand-led research team has found new information about the cause of microcephaly, a disease that affects brain growth and function in children. Photo: Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay An Otago-led team has uncovered a genetic cause for a rare children's brain disorder. University of Otago associate professor Louise Bicknell, co-author of the study, said the international research team were investigating microcephaly, a developmental disorder where children's brains fail to grow. Dr Louise Bicknell says new research has helped pinpoint a genetic cause of the devastating children's brain disease microcephaly. Photo: Supplied/ University of Otago - Sharron Bennett They pinpointed specific changes in a gene called CRNKL1, and their findings were recently published in the prestigious American Journal of Human Genetics. It was the culmination of a seven-year study of a New Zealand family, Bicknell said. "Their wee girl had really severe microcephaly. Her brain was much smaller than we'd hoped for, and there were quite a few structural things that were abnormal about her brain, so quite unusual." Researchers compared her brain structure with that of nine children overseas who also had the condition. "It was only then that, we realised they all had similar features, of a really small brain, as well as these structural [aspects] of other parts of the brain not being so usual." In a striking discovery, nine of the families also showed genetic changes in the exact same spot in the CRNKL1 gene. It proved there was a strong link between these specific genetic changes and the disorder, and it was an exciting breakthrough, she said. "That's when the heart starts racing and you know you are onto something. Your gut instinct kicks in and says, this can't be a coincidence, this must be something." Lead author Dr Sankalita Ray Das, a postdoctoral fellow at Otago's Rare Disorder Genetics Laboratory, said the research findings clearly showed that CRNKL1 was "crucial" for healthy brain development. "Importantly, this knowledge has provided understanding for families affected by these severe conditions and lays the foundation for further research into why just the brain is affected by these genetic changes." The researchers received funding from the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand, Cure Kids and the University of Otago, Bicknell said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

RNZ News

2 days ago

• RNZ News

Approaching life-changing diagnosis for "missing millions" with ME/CFS

Photo: Professor Warren Tate Photo: Supplied Anyone who has or knows someone with ME, chronic syndrome fatigue or long covid knows that being believed is one of the toughest parts of having the condition. University of Otago Emeritus Professor Warren Tate has dedicated his life to researching ME/CFS and is considered a leading authority on long covid. Along with his team, he has been developing a diagnostic test, that so far has shown promising results. If implemented, it would be life-changing. Warren and his co-researcher Dr Katie Peppercorn have also released a one-of-a-kind book to help clinicians and researchers find ways of better understanding post-viral conditions and improve the lives of those 'missing millions' affected with ME/CFS and most recently long covid.