Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration has been named a finalist in the 2017 Green Ribbon Awards for their biodiversity protection work for kokako. Winners will be announced on 8 June at Parliament Buildings at a ceremony hosted by Minister for the Environment Hon Dr Nick Smith, and Associate Minister of Conservation Hon Nicky Wagner. Society Chairperson Clare St Pierre was delighted with the news. "Helping Pureora Kokako being classified as the strongest population in the country is something our group is immensely proud of, especially as that iconic species is so closely tied to our national identity. We couldn't have done it without ordinary people coming on board to help on our Okahukur
Our project aimed at restoring North Island kokako to the Pirongia Forest Park is being backed by a $110,000 grant from Waikato Regional Council. The successful natural heritage fund application, just approved by the finance committee, will help with the transfer of 40 “founder” birds from Pureora Forest and Tiritiri Matangi Island in the Hauraki Gulf to Pirongia. The grant is to the Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society, a community organisation which has a range of projects underway in the park aimed at boosting natural biodiversity. Kokako – a once common species now officially at risk - were present on Mt Pirongia till the 1990s when they were removed in the hope they would breed
