Volunteers carry the kokako into the Pirininihi Forest after an eighteen-year absence.

﻿The trust that brought a rare bird back to rural Taranaki after a near 20-year absence says it is working with transport bosses over plans to upgrade a state highway near their habitat.

Eighteen years after the last kokako, called Tamanui, was moved from the Parininihi Forest, near Urenui, to a captive breeding programme run by the Department of Conservation (DOC), 12 of his descendants were brought back at the weekend.

But the birds' habitat features in two of the three options to improve a 58-kilometre stretch of State Highway 3 between Awakino Gorge and Mt Messenger.

Jenny James Kevin Stokes, Taranaki Kiwi Trust, was part of the team that went to Tiritiri Matangi Island to catch the kokako.

And the possible impact on the kokako is "a bit of an unknown", according to Davis McClutchie, chair of the Tiaki te Mauri o Parininihi Trust, which helped to bring the birds back.

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"It's a bit hard to put an actual finger on how much it will be a threat," he said.

KAY MILTON The kokako has been upgraded for 'threatened' to 'at risk-recovering' by DOC.

The trust is concerned the road will act as a boundary to stop the birds from expanding their habitat.

He said members were working with the The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and specialist groups to mitigate the threat as much as possible.

NZTA director of regional relationships, Parekawhia McLean, said they understood the significance of releasing kokako in the Parininihi area.

Jenny James Volunteers carry the kokako into the Pirininihi Forest after an eighteen-year absence.

"Our team is working closely with the Kokako Specialists' Group to ensure our designs for the new route minimise the potential of any impact on kokako.

"We consider the environment to be highly significant in this project. There is always a balance to be achieved and the environment is one of the key factors in assessing potential options."

​Operations manager for DOC, Gareth Hopkins, said the return of the birds is a direct result of the incredible work undertaken by Ngati Tama and the Tiaki Te Mauri O Parininihi Trust.

Jenny James Eighteen years after the last kokako was rescued from near Pirininihi forest, his descendants return to the area.

"It also upholds an agreement with Ngāti Tama that one day these birds would be returned to their rohe," Hopkins said.

A number of birds have been brought into Taranaki in the last two months, including hihi, robins and three kiwi, which are currently getting used to the wild at Rotokare Sanctuary before moving to Egmont National Park.

Tiaki te Mauri o Parininihi Trust member Conrad O'Carroll, who has worked in the bush area maintaining tracks and establishing the extensive trap network for over 10 years, said the traps had caught over 4000 pests and will continue to protect kokako.

Kay Milton Tamanui died in 2008 but his progeny are repopulating Pirininihi forest.

"Bird life has already increased at Parininihi and kiwi footprints are regularly seen in the forest," he said.

Kokako team leader Morag Fordham said Sunday was an exciting but emotional day for her and her volunteer monitors to see the birds return to their ancestral home, as each bird has unique traits.

"We feel we know them all personally," Fordham said.

Urenui resident Paul Prip said he remembered kokako singing outside his hut when he worked in the Moki forest near Parininihi in the 1980s.

"I would love to experience that again," he said.

Davis McClutchie said the Tiaki te Mauri o Parininihi Trust had brought the taonga back for the whole of Taranaki.

"We were fortunate to have many organisations, community groups and hardworking volunteers believe in our vision and our quest to bring back kokako," he said.

"It's been such a long journey to get them there. This is only just the start of what's going to happen."