The Department of Conservation (DoC) is releasing some of the country's most endangered birds along famous walking tracks.
Air New Zealand has contributed $1 million to the project which will see the birds in the track areas for the first time in more than a century.
Takahe, kokako, kiwi, whio (the blue duck) and pateke (brown teal) are among the birds being reintroduced along the walkways.
DoC said work started last year to ensure the tracks were predator free zones.
Spokesperson David Wilks said 10 kiwi have already been released on Stewart Island and about 70 pateke have been introduced to walks in Waikaremoana.
Mr Wilks said others will be released in the Arthur Valley in Milford Sound and the Routeburn Track in Fiordland in the coming months.