The legacy of Lisa – a kākapō, an ancestor 

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

By Andie Gentle

Te tuku iho o Lisa – ke kākāpō, he tupuna – The legacy of Lisa – a kākapō, an ancestor 

Lisa the kākāpō lived more than half a century and was one of the kākāpō we knew the longest. She passed away earlier this year on Pukenui Anchor Island, showing signs of old age. Her death brought the kākāpō tally to 238. Lisa’s stories span decades of conservation mahi, helping bring her species back from the brink of extinction. 

Lisa’s discovery 

Lisa was one of the founders of the modern kākāpō population. She was discovered on Rakiura/Stewart Island in 1982 by Bill Jarvie and his dog Adler. At the time, there were just 29 known kākāpō, and females had only been confirmed to still exist two years earlier. 

Her exact age was unknown, but based on breeding history and genetics, we know she was at least 50 years old when she died, likely much older. It’s estimated that kākāpō could live anywhere between 60–90 years – only time will tell.

Moved then missing 

Due to the high risk of feral cat predation on Rakiura, Lisa was moved to Te Hauturu-o-Toi/Little Barrier Island (Hauturu) for protection. In 1986, her transmitter was removed as part of a trial to see if reduced human interaction might improve breeding outcomes. This was later found to make no difference, and today all kākāpō wear transmitters for management purposes. 

By 1999, all known females had been removed from Hauturu. So, when signs of mating were spotted in the bowl belonging to the male Ox, conservation dogs were brought in to help search. Then, 13 years since she had last been seen, Lisa was found. Even better, she was on a nest with three fertile eggs. 

The kākāpō population had grown to a total of 63 by then, thanks largely to more discoveries on Rakiura. Lisa, and the three females from her ‘rediscovery nest’, were moved South to help diversify the more successful breeding populations. Lisa lived first on Maud Island (1999-2001), then on Whenua Hou/Codfish Island. 

The Te Hauturu-o-Toi site trial 

By 2012, the population had reached 125. A new trial began again up on Hauturu, which was now free of kiore (Pacific/Polynesian rats), to see if kākāpō could breed there without our support. So, after 13 years (and six breeding seasons) on Whenua Hou, Lisa was selected to return north to join the trial in 2014. Remarkably, within a couple of weeks, she had found and settled into her home range – the same one she’d last used 15 years earlier. 

Lisa was part of the Hauturu trial for a further nine years until it wrapped up in 2023. The trial taught us many things, including that kākāpō are unlikely to be productive on the island without supplementary feeding. 

Breeding results 

Incredibly, Lisa had offspring across more than three decades.  

Kākāpō breed just once every 2-4 years and in the time, we knew Lisa she had 11 clutches and 28 eggs (16 fertile, 10 hatched). DNA also revealed she had at least two offspring before she was first discovered in 1982. Her last clutch was on Hauturu in 2021 with two infertile eggs. 

Eight of Lisa’s 12 offspring are alive and well today:   
 
Discovered on Rakiura: Merty* (1982) Ralph (1987) 
Hauturu: Ellie*, Hauturu & Aranga (1999) 
Whenua Hou: Hananui (2002), Lisa1-2-08* (2008) Purity*, Tīwhiri & Hurihuri (2009), Atareta (2011), Ruapuke (2014) 

*deceased 

In 2014 during her last breeding season on Whenua Hou, Lisa accidentally cracked her egg in the nest. It was severely damaged, and its survival was uncertain. Every effort was made to save it. The egg was carefully taped, glued, and hand-rotated hourly for five days. Incredibly, Ruapuke (then known as Lisa-One) hatched safe and well, becoming the standout success of a breeding season that produced just five other chicks. Ruapuke is now a healthy strong 11-year-old. 

Lisa’s Legacy 

Lisa’s role as a founder and her contribution to critical data and insights for kākāpō were invaluable. She helped shape the future of her species and can now rest easy knowing her offspring and many mokopuna (descendants) will carry her legacy forward into the 2026 breeding season and beyond. 

The Kākāpō Recovery Programme works together with treaty partner Ngāi Tahu and national partner Meridian Energy to help restore the mauri (life force) of this critically endangered species. To support our mahi visit: Donate: Kākāpō Recovery 

Want to read more? Learn more about the Hauturu trial or the upcoming breeding season.

MIL OSI