Hihi conservation effort celebrates small victories

Scientists, volunteers and iwi are making progress on re-establishing the threatened hihi - also known as the stitchbird - across Aotearoa New Zealand, but the little bird still faces some big challenges.

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These birds are endemic to New Zealand and rare on the mainland, aside from several small re-introduced populations across the North Island.

Males are truly a sight to behold, sporting a black hood over their head, extendable white ear tufts and a yellow chest band befitting a proud Wellington Phoenix supporter – and with the loud voice to match.

Females wear a more demure greyish-brown coat, accented with chic white wing bars and a touch of olive green.

Hihi are unique in a number of ways - they are the sole member of their own scientific family, Notiomystidae, and their mating behaviour is also notable for sometimes taking place face-to-face – a unique trait among birds.

They are also known to be rather promiscuous – so much so that an adult toy retailer adopted the hihi’s cause during the 2020 ‘Bird of the Year’ competition, extolling their “polyamorous” and “sex positive” virtues.

Hihi are also ecologically useful – they distribute pollen and seeds while feeding on nectar, fruits, and insects - similar to other endemic birds like bellbirds or tūī.

However, as one of New Zealand's most threatened species, the hihi’s survival has long been balanced on a knife edge.

Once widespread across the North Island, including many larger offshore islands, the hihi was almost wiped out by habitat destruction, introduced predators and disease after European colonisation in the 1800s.

As a result hihi became extinct on the mainland during the 1890’s, with the only remaining population found on Te Hauturu-ō-Toi (Little Barrier Island) in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf.

Drawing from that small – but relatively stable – population, scientists, conservationists and iwi have worked together over the last few decades to re-introduce hihi to sites across New Zealand.

Professor John Ewen, a trustee of the Hihi Conservation Charitable Trust (HCCT) and Research Fellow at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), has been a hihi conservation stalwart – and one of its proudest advocates - since the early 90s.

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Above: Professor John Ewen.

"This is the best little bird in the world," John said.

"I've loved hihi for decades now, and it's hugely rewarding seeing how the populations have grown across northern New Zealand.

"Our best estimates put them at about 2000 on Te Hauturu-ō-Toi then we've managed to grow another 500 or 600 adult birds across their former range following successful reintroductions."

Those reintroduction sites include Tiritiri Matangi Island, Kapiti Island, Zealandia in Wellington, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari in Waikato, Bushy Park Tarapuruhi in Whanganui, Rotokare Scenic Reserve in Taranaki and Shakespear Regional Park in Auckland.

The trust works closely with the New Zealand Department of Conservation, and with Ngāti Manuhiri who are the kaitiaki (guardians) of Te Hauturu-ō-Toi. While the effort has seen much success over the past few decades, hihi conservation is not without its challenges.

Unlike many other forest birds, hihi require intensive management to thrive when establishing a new population and research continues to identify the exact habitat needs for the birds and how best to efficiently support them when those habitat elements are missing.

John says science is still critical for solving the hihi puzzle.

"For most forest birds in New Zealand, the main things we have to do are provide them with a habitat free of non-native predatory mammals," John said.

"But hihi are an exception - that's not enough - we have to provide them with boxes to nest in, protection from parasites, and supplementary food, which is sugar water."

Hihi require old-growth forests which provide them the abundance of natural nest cavities and a diverse smorgasbord of fruiting and flowing tree species – meaning older, more established forests are the best. Such undisturbed habitats are themselves rare.Aside from the physical and scientific challenges facing the hihi, there’s also the matter of money to keep the effort going – all that care adds up.

The trust is funded through a diverse mixture of government, private and corporate donations.

John said he was particularly delighted last year to receive funding from the ANZ New Zealand Staff Foundation, which gave $6500 to help pay an HCCT staff member for their work in 2024.

The bank also sent a videographer along to Tiritiri Matangi to document some of the work the HCCT is doing there – that video can be seen on the ANZ New Zealand News website.

Science has been a cornerstone of the hihi conservation effort, with data driving decision-making processes when assessing the viability of reintroduction sites.

Mary-Ann Rowland, also of the HCCT, said the research which has accompanied the conservation effort has had global significance.

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Above: Mary-Ann Rowland, right, with Elisabeth Easther.

"The information they're finding has been used all over the world to save similar populations of small passerine [perching] birds," Mary-Ann said.

The health of hihi populations can also be a useful indicator for the general health of our forests, she said.

"They are the litmus paper - they show us how our conservation efforts are working in New Zealand."

Mary-Ann said the success of hihi conservation efforts in New Zealand is testament to the power of community and volunteer efforts.

"There are hihi populations in eight different locations around New Zealand, and most of it is done by volunteers," Rowland said. "It's amazing."

Another trustee, Elisabeth Easther - whose name may be familiar due to her role as murderous nurse Carla Crozier on Shortland Street in the mid-90s - said she finds a huge amount of personal fulfilment in working with hihi.

"One of the things I love about being a kaitiaki for nature is that, with the world being increasingly chaotic, I feel my spirits lift when something good has been done with the day," Elisabeth said.

"Humans don't exist outside of nature - we are nature - and any act of conservation is an act of intergenerational good manners."
~ Elisabeth Easther - Trustee - Hihi Conservation Trust

John said he hopes more New Zealanders will get to know the hihi, and become passionate supporters, so momentum for their recovery can continue.

"We can recover this bird - we've got the science, we've got the people - if we can get the resources to back it up, we can deliver for hihi, and for New Zealand."

With continued support and awareness, this remarkable bird will not only survive but thrive, bringing a touch of brilliance to New Zealand's forests for generations to come.

More information on hihi conservation is available at hihiconservation.com