Rare Kākā Parrots Return to Downtown Auckland After Decades

Wild parrots are landing in downtown Auckland neighborhoods for the first time in decades, and it's proof that ordinary people can bring wildlife back to cities.

The kākā, a forest-dwelling native parrot, recently appeared in central Auckland suburbs like Epsom and Grey Lynn. When Urban Ark conservation group first received reports, they were skeptical until they saw video proof of not just one bird, but a breeding pair.

"I was like, 'Oh my god it really is one,'" said Phil Simpson, an ecological restoration adviser with Urban Ark. "It feels like they're moving in."

The birds have lived in Auckland's outer ranges and offshore islands, but seeing them in the urban core is extraordinary. Simpson believes growing populations in those areas are now spilling over into the city as habitats improve.

The progress didn't happen overnight. Since 2019, Urban Ark has deployed 3,500 pest traps across Auckland's inner suburbs, catching at least 21,000 rats, stoats, and possums that threaten native birds. Simpson estimates the real number could be five or six times higher, as many trappers don't report their catches.

A 2025 study tracking bird populations around Auckland Domain from 1987 to 2020 confirms the trend. Researchers found significant increases in forest specialist birds like tūī, kererū, and grey warbler.

The Ripple Effect

Auckland Museum's Josie Galbraith, who co-authored the bird population study, says the kākā sightings hint at what's possible when communities work together. She believes bellbirds and tomtits could return next if conservation efforts continue growing.

Unlike Wellington, Auckland lacks a fenced predator-proof sanctuary in its center. Instead, the city relies on stream corridors and volcanic peaks as "stepping-stone habitats" connecting fragmented green spaces. Urban Ark plans to strengthen these wildlife highways with more native plantings and expanded pest control.

The real strength lies in people power. Thousands of volunteers from groups like Eastern Bays Songbird Project, Pest Free Waitākere Ranges Alliance, and Pest Free Kaipātiki are creating a network of safe habitats across the region.

Everyday residents can help too by planting native trees like kōwhai, setting backyard traps, or providing fresh water for birds. Galbraith emphasizes keeping birdbaths "super, super clean" to prevent disease spread.

The kākā's return proves that cities don't have to choose between urban development and thriving ecosystems.