Kākāpō Files II

RNZ Originals
RNZ Originals
  • 4.9 (32)
  • Natural Sciences
  • Semiweekly Series

The Kākāpō Files podcast is back with what’s set to be the biggest breeding season of all time for the world’s favourite parrot. Monthly episodes from late May 2026.

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  1. Episode 1

    The Birds Are Back

    The Kākāpō Files returns for a second season, to follow everyone’s favourite parrot through what is predicted to be the biggest breeding season on record. Host Alison Ballance and Our Changing World’s Claire Concannon chat about what exactly is a kākāpō, discuss the conservation history of this endangered bird through the life story of two kākāpō, and discover just how big this breeding season might be. Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to kakapo@rnz.co.nz In this episode: 00:00 – What is a kākāpō and how rare are they? 06:32 – Kākāpō names, from Zephyr to Acheron, and a brief conservation history 14:29 – Rimu masting and the 2026 breeding season 22:25 – Kākāpō trivia 24:12 – Closing credits Learn more: Follow the Kākāpō Files podcast to keep up to date.Want to start the new series prepared with all the backstory? Listen to the Voice of the Kākāpō series for a recap of the 2019 breeding season. Then listen to the episodes covering the interim 2022 breeding season, and about how a few male kākāpō have fared in the North Island, in the fenced Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari.For more New Zealand science and nature find and follow the Our Changing World podcast, and subscribe to the show’s monthly newsletter.Guests: Claire Concannon, Our Changing WorldReferences: “Kākāpō: Rescued from the Brink of Extinction” by Alison Ballance (published 2018) Kākāpō Files is made in collaboration with the Department of Conservation’s Kākāpō Recovery Programme. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    The Birds Are Back

  2. Episode 2

    Meet the Team

    It’s the summer solstice and we are waiting for kākāpō breeding to begin. Alison Ballance chats with island ranger Maddy Whittaker, who reports that on Whenua Hou/Codfish Island all the male kākāpō are in full voice, booming all night to attract the females, who haven’t shown any interest yet. The action hasn’t yet ramped up on Anchor Island. Alison also meets three key people from the Kākāpō Team, and hears about their first-ever kākāpō encounters. Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to kakapo@rnz.co.nz In this episode: 00:00 – Introduction 00:42 – Kākāpō ranger Maddy Whittaker with updates on what the male birds are up to on the islands 05:09 – Technical Officer Daryl Eason talks about his first kākāpō encounter and what makes these birds so unique 09:41 – Operations Manager of the Kākāpō Recovery Programme Deidre Vercoe remembers her first kākāpō meeting 13:44 – Science Advisor Andrew Digby talks about meeting his first kākāpō 16:00 – Daryl Eason predicts when the breeding season might begin… Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    Meet the Team

  3. Episode 3

    Kākāpō Countdown

    It’s nearly the New Year and we’re counting down to the start of a big kākāpō breeding season. Island ranger Maddy Whittaker tells Alison Ballance that Pearl and Boss are the first kākāpō to mate. Deidre Vercoe, operations manager for the Kākāpō Team, explains that kākāpō mums on Whenua Hou will get wrap-round support, while management on Anchor Island and Te Kakahu/Chalky Island will be more hands-off. Scientist Andrew Digby talks about the role of technology in making this possible, and digs into the kākāpō’s boring gut microbiome. Technical advisor Daryl Eason introduces founder female Margaret-Maree, matriarch of a lineage with five living generations. Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to kakapo@rnz.co.nz In this episode: 00:00 – Introduction 00:53 – Kākāpō ranger Maddy Whittaker with news that Pearl and Boss on Whenua Hou are the first kākāpō to mate. 06:02 – Operations Manager of the Kākāpō Recovery Programme Deidre Vercoe explains that kākāpō mums on Whenua Hou will get wrap-round support, while management on Anchor Island and Te Kakahu / Chalky Island will be more hands-off. 10:08 – Science Advisor Andrew Digby talks about the role of technology and the kākāpō’s dull microbiome. 13:24 – Technical Advisor Daryl Eason introduces Margaret-Maree, matriarch of a dynasty with five living generations. 16:18 – Closing credits… Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    Kākāpō Countdown

  4. Episode 4

    Any Minute Now

    It’s the New Year and we’re in the early days of a big kākāpō breeding season. Daryl Eason from the Kākāpō Team tells Alison Ballance that Esperance and Ian are the second kākāpō to mate, and he expects that any minute now there will be plenty more birds mating. The kākāpō population drops to 236 birds. Science advisor Andrew Digby explains why every living kākāpō has had its genome sequenced, and what genes can reveal – including why some kākāpō have olive feathers and others are bright green. And we meet over-achievers Flossie and Blades. Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to kakapo@rnz.co.nz In this episode: 00:00 – Introduction 00:38 – Daryl Eason with news of the second mating of the season, what Pearl is up to and a death 05:10 – Andrew Digby talks genomes and feather colour 12:10 – Super breeders Flossie and Blades 14:08 - Closing credits Learn more: Follow the Kākāpō Files podcast to keep up to date.Listen to the Voice of the Kākāpō series for a recap of the 2019 breeding season. Also listen to the episodes covering the interim 2022 breeding season, and about how a few male kākāpō have fared in the North Island, in the fenced Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari.For more New Zealand science and nature find and follow the Our Changing World podcast, and subscribe to the show’s monthly newsletter.Guests: Andrew Digby, Science Advisor, Kākāpō Recovery ProgrammeDaryl Eason, Technical Advisor, Kākāpō Recovery ProgrammeKākāpō Files is made in collaboration with the Department of Conservation’s Kākāpō Recovery Programme. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    Any Minute Now

  5. Episode 5

    The First Nest

    Early bird Pearl has laid the first eggs of the 2026 kākāpō breeding season but Kākāpō Recovery Programme science advisor Andrew Digby tells Alison Ballance that it’s too soon to know if they are fertile. Youngsters Huhū and Hondy are the third pair to mate on Whenua Hou, and Heather and Bluster Murphy are the fourth. Hine Taumai and Henry are the first to mate on Anchor Island. Technical advisor Daryl Eason explains the use of artificial insemination (AI), and we find out why it is a useful genetics tool and what the AI team are up to in the field. Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to kakapo@rnz.co.nz In this episode: 00:00 – Introduction 02:10 – Mating updates 08.48 – Discussion about using artificial insemination (AI) 15:28 – Andrew reports on the first AI efforts for this breeding season. 20:51 – Closing credits Learn more: Follow the Kākāpō Files podcast to keep up to date.Listen to the Voice of the Kākāpō series for a recap of the 2019 breeding season. Also listen to the episodes covering the interim 2022 breeding season, and about how a few male kākāpō have fared in the North Island, in the fenced Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari.For more New Zealand science and nature find and follow the Our Changing World podcast, and subscribe to the show’s monthly newsletter.Guests: Andrew Digby, Science Advisor, Kākāpō Recovery ProgrammeDaryl Eason, Technical Advisor, Kākāpō Recovery ProgrammeKākāpō Files is made in collaboration with the Department of Conservation’s Kākāpō Recovery Programme. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    The First Nest

  6. Episode 6

    Kākāpō Action Heating Up

    There have been 24 kākāpō matings so far, and the number is increasing as mating action heats up on all three breeding islands. Deidre Vercoe, from the Kākāpō Recovery Programme, tells Alison Ballance that some 7-year-old birds from the 2019 breeding season have mated for the first time. The first female to mate this season, Pearl, has laid infertile eggs, but nightly activity monitoring shows that three more females have started nesting. Technical Advisor Daryl Eason talks about the under-achievers, founder kākāpō that either haven’t bred at all or have produced only a few chicks. Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to kakapo@rnz.co.nz In this episode: 00:00 – Introduction 00:51 – Mating updates 03:06 - Nesting updates 06:27 - Artificial insemination progress 10:40 - Male under-achievers 14:09 - Female under-achievers 15:26 - Closing credits Learn more: Follow the Kākāpō Files podcast to keep up to date.Listen to the Voice of the Kākāpō series for a recap of the 2019 breeding season. Also listen to the episodes covering the interim 2022 breeding season, and about how a few male kākāpō have fared in the North Island, in the fenced Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari.For more New Zealand science and nature find and follow the Our Changing World podcast, and subscribe to the show’s monthly newsletter.Guests: Andrew Digby, Science Advisor, Kākāpō Recovery ProgrammeDaryl Eason, Technical Advisor, Kākāpō Recovery ProgrammeKākāpō Files is made in collaboration with the Department of Conservation’s Kākāpō Recovery Programme. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    Kākāpō Action Heating Up

  7. Episode 7

    Full Steam Ahead

    The 2026 kākāpō breeding season is all systems go: nearly half of the females of breeding age have mated and so far 15 females are nesting. Technical Advisor Daryl Eason talks about record-breaking female Ongaonga who, at 4 years-old, is the youngest female kākāpō ever to breed. There are plenty of other first-time breeders as well. Six females were successfully inseminated with sperm from under-represented males. Ranger Maddy Whitaker updates us with the latest numbers, including a single fertile egg so far, and tech expert Jake Osborne introduces the kākāpō nest cam, beaming live from Rakiura’s nest on Whenua Hou. Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to kakapo@rnz.co.nz. In this episode: 00:00 – Introduction 01:25 - Youngest female to mate 04:53 - Daryl Eason on Artificial insemination progress 09:17 - Maddy Whittaker with mating and nesting updates 16:00 - Jake Osborne on the kākāpō nest cam 20:32 - Closing credits… Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    Full Steam Ahead

  8. Episode 8

    Peak Breeding

    More than three-quarters of female kākāpō of breeding age have mated so far, and the number of nests is growing rapidly. Kākāpō operations manager Deidre Vercoe tells Alison Ballance that 101 eggs have been laid to date, and while it is early days 38 eggs are known to be fertile. As always, infertile eggs are a major problem, although science advisor Andrew Digby explains that recent research shows that many eggs are in fact fertilised but die in the first day or two. And Deidre says that the Kākāpō Recovery Programme takes threats such as the fungal disease aspergillosis, failure of the rimu fruit to ripen and the possible arrival of highly pathogenic bird flu in New Zealand very seriously. Send any Kākāpō Files questions and comments to kakapo@rnz.co.nz. In this episode: 00:00 – Introduction 00:57 – Mating update 03.28 – Nesting update and 101 eggs 09:13 – Bird of the Week: Kākāpō Cam star Rakiura 10:34 – Egg infertility 12:12 – Threats including aspergillosis and bird flu 14:15 - Closing credits… Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    Peak Breeding
See All Season 2 (20)

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The Kākāpō Files podcast is back with what’s set to be the biggest breeding season of all time for the world’s favourite parrot. Monthly episodes from late May 2026.

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