Conservation / Environment

Saving the kākāriki karaka, an ongoing mission

13:45 pm on 17 August 2023

Listen

Kākāriki karaka, orange-fronted parakeet once thrived on the Canterbury planes but are now threatened.

Yvette Couch-Lewis is the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu kākāriki karaka species recovery representative. She's been through the highs and lows of protecting this manu.

Yvette was recognised in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours for her services to conservation and Māori.

She talks to Jesse about her mission to ensure the survival of this special species.

Orange-fronted parakeets, or kākāriki karaka. Credit: Leonie Heyder Photo: