Environment – Fresh hope for tara-iti

new research project funded by the Shorebirds Trust is giving renewed hope for the survival of tara iti, Aotearoa New Zealand’s most endangered bird.

With support from Auckland Council and the Department of Conservation (DOC), the Shorebirds Trust is backing a two-year study that will help answer some of the most important questions facing tara iti conservation today. The research is being carried out by scientists at the University of Canterbury and focuses on understanding the bird’s genetic makeup – information that could prove critical to its future.

Tara iti numbers remain perilously low, and their survival is threatened not only by predators and habitat loss, but also by a lack of genetic diversity. This is a problem faced by many threatened species like little spotted kiwi and black robin. When populations crash and rebuild from low numbers, individuals are more likely to breed with close relatives. Over time, this can lead to poor “genetic health”, which includes reduced breeding success, greater susceptibility to disease, reduced adaptability to environmental change and an overall higher risk of extinction.

Genetics may sound technical, but fundamentally this research will shed invaluable light on the species past, present and future. By understanding the genetic challenges the species faces, we can make the best decisions to protect it.

The study will look at two key issues. First, scientists will clarify whether tara iti is a unique endemic species or a native subspecies of Aotearoa New Zealand. This uncertainty has made conservation planning more difficult in the past. Second, the research will assess the overall genetic health of the population, helping the tara iti recovery team understand how serious the risks from prolonged inbreeding really are, and what options are available for improvement.

To do this, researchers will collect and analyse genetic samples from tara iti, along with related fairy tern species in Australia and New Caledonia. They will also study historic specimens held in museums across the world. Together, this information will help tell the origin story of fairy terns, how long tara iti have been a unique population, what their past range was across the country, and provide possible options for improving genetic health.

The results will directly guide conservation action, helping kaitiaki and conservation managers decide what steps will give tara iti the best chance for long-term survival in the wild. By funding this work, the Shorebirds Trust is investing in the science behind conservation, ensuring that decisions are based on solid evidence. It’s a crucial step toward safeguarding New Zealand’s rarest coastal bird and ensuring that tara iti remain part of our natural heritage for generations to come