Kakaruai
South Island robin
Petroica australis
Their Story
The kakaruai or South Island robin (Petroica australis) is a small, endemic forest bird known for its upright stance, long legs and inquisitive personality. As insectivorous ground-foragers, robins prefer mature forest with a closed canopy, open understory and moist soil.
They are often described as “friendly” and curious, frequently following people along tracks and sometimes even perching on boots. It is thought that kakaruai once followed moa through the forest to catch invertebrates disturbed by their feet — and that today, humans serve a similar purpose.
Kakaruai are the second most commonly translocated bird species after kiwi, and are often the first to be reintroduced in ecosystem restoration projects. The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary is unique among fenced sanctuaries in that it never had to reintroduce kakaruai— a remnant population survived naturally along the upper ridges between Jenkins Hill and Third House, where rat densities are lower and predation pressure reduced. They are now thriving in our pest-free environment.
Because they are territorial, non-migratory and easy to observe, kakaruai make excellent indicator species for the success of pest control programmes. Their breeding success closely reflects predator abundance — in one Dunedin study, success was below 10% in unmanaged areas but above 80% in pest-free sites.
With ongoing protection and pest-free conditions, we can expect to see many more kakaruai thriving in the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary in the years to come — a lot more!
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
Endemic – Declining
Populations are stable but dependent on effective predator control.
Population
Found across the South Island in native forest. A remnant population survived naturally within the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary and is now thriving under pest-free conditions.
Voice
A clear, melodious song and sharp “tick” call. Their calls are frequent and distinctive in forest territories.
Food
Feeds mainly on insects and other small invertebrates found on the forest floor and low vegetation.
The adult male South Island robin is dark grey-black over the head, neck, mantle and upper chest; the flight feathers and tail are brownish-black, and the lower chest and belly white to yellowish white with a sharp demarcation between black and white on chest. Adult females are light to dark grey over the upper body. They further differ from males in the white chest-belly area being smaller and not having such a distinct demarcation between grey and white feathering. Juveniles are similar to females, but often with a smaller or no white patch on the underparts. Adults of both sexes are able to expose a small white spot of feathers above the base of the beak during intraspecific and interspecific interactions.
Male robins are territorial year round, although their aggression towards intruders is subdued during the moult. Pairs remain in their territories most of the time, occasionally sneaking elsewhere to feed, drink or bathe. Males dominate their mates during the non-breeding season, such that pair members are occasionally found apart.
Robins use a variety of activities to flush hidden or camouflaged prey, such as foot trembling, wing-flicking and tail-flicking. Occasionally they capture relatively large prey, which are killed, dismembered, and some portions are often cached. These are usually retrieved later the same day or the following one. Other activities of South Island robins include anting, sunbathing and pellet casting.
Kakaruai are monogamous, often pairing for life and remaining in the same breeding territory throughout their lifetime. South Island robins start nesting in July, with the last clutches laid in December. The female builds the nest while her mate brings her food 2-3 times per hour. Only females incubate the 2-4 eggs; her mate calls her from the nest every 20 minutes or so to provide her with food. Both parents feed the nestlings. Nestlings leave the nest when about 3 weeks old, and continue to be fed by their parents for a further 5-6 weeks. If one fledgling is reared the male feeds it while the female builds a nest and incubates the next clutch. If there are two fledglings, each is usually fed by a different parent, and if three the male usually looks after two and the female one.
Robins occur in mature forest, scrub, and exotic plantations, particularly those that are fairly mature with an open understorey. They seem to favour moist areas where there is an open understorey under a closed canopy on fertile soils. Habitats that tend to be shunned are those with widely scattered trees and where the ground is covered by grasses or sparse vegetation on stony, droughty soils.
South Island robin is patchily distributed through its range, and is absent from some seemingly suitable areas while common in others. Pairs have territories of 1-5 ha on the mainland, although populations on pest-free islands can occur at much greater densities (0.2-0.6 ha / pair).
Endemic – Declining
While forest clearance for farmland during the 19th and 20th centuries resulted in loss of habitat for the South Island robin, today the main threat to its conservation is predation by introduced mammalian predators, such as feral cats, stoats, possums and ship rats. Eggs, nestlings and adult females (which carry out all incubation and brooding of young) are frequently taken during the breeding season where predators are not controlled. As a result populations become male biased. Where pest control is carried out, populations increase rapidly, and the sex ratio returns to almost 1:1 within a few years – there are usually a few more males than females.
The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary is unique among fenced sanctuaries in that it never had to reintroduce kakaruai— a remnant population survived naturally along the upper ridges between Jenkins Hill and Third House, where rat densities are lower and predation pressure reduced.
Males are great songsters, particularly bachelors, singing loudly and often for many minutes at a time.
Our other residents
Check out some of the other incredible wildlife that call the Sanctuary home
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Win prizes for your best summer photo at the Sanctuary 📸🏆☀️
This season, we want to see the Sanctuary through your lens — the bright light through the canopy, the textures of the forest floor, and the tiny details that make summer feel alive.
Enter our Summer Photography Competition (part of our Sanctuary Seasons series) and you could win:
🏆 Instant camera (Junior Photography winner)
🌙 Family ticket to a guided night tour
📰 Feature in our newsletter + social media
🖼️ Printed display at the Visitor Centre
📅 Entries close 28 February - Submit your entries via our website: Link in bio
Photo credit: Helen Power - Entry from the spring photography competition
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #SanctuarySeasons #Ngahere #NaturePhotography #NZWildlife #NelsonTasman #VisitNelson #NZHikes #EcoTourismNZ #ConservationStorytelling
Feb 4
Looking for a unique and memorable date night? 🌙🌲
This February, we’re introducing Date Me Darling — private, curated date nights inside the Sanctuary at dusk.
Three styled locations. One couple at a time. You’ll have a styled spot along the main loop track, locally sourced food and drinks, a few games to share, and time to slow down together as the forest shifts into evening.
Beech Glade: for when you want the world to fall away — deeply hidden, totally private, just you and the hush of the forest.
River: crystal clear water, canopy above, flickering lights — the kind of setup you usually only see on Instagram.
Meadow: open sky, long grass, and the forest standing quietly at the edges like it knows not to interrupt.
Bookings are open now (limited spaces in February only so don’t miss out!): Link in bio
#DateMeDarling #NelsonNZ #NelsonTasman #ThingsToDoNelson #DateNightIdeas #NatureLovers #SupportLocalNZ #ConservationNZ #BrookWaimāramaSanctuary
Feb 3
Two cute to be true?
Brook Waimārama Sanctuary and @savethekiwinz teams have been busy over the past few days tracking and recapturing kiwi to remove their transmitters. Thanks to a huge team effort, all ten males were recaptured within just three days.
Some nest burrows held a surprise or two — in several cases a female was present, and a couple even contained chicks. One burrow amazed us all, with not one but two adorable chicks 😍
All chicks are fully independent at this stage of the season, and after quick health checks and transmitter removal, all adult kiwi were safely returned to their burrows.
This special footage was captured by kiwi handler Tamsin from Save the Kiwi, who led the transmitter removal mahi.
We estimate the 20 females and 21 males released in May last year have already produced around 10–15 kiwi pukupuku (little spotted kiwi) chicks in their very first breeding season — a strong sign the habitat is just right.
With transmitters now removed from all ten males, the kiwi are completely free, with no further handling needed. Annual kiwi call counts by staff and volunteers will help track the growing population across our 690 ha, ring-fenced, pest-free sanctuary.
Credit: Video courtesy of Tamsin Ward-Smith, Save the Kiwi
Thanks to our partnership with @terunangaotoa Ngati Toa and Save the Kiwi
#kiwipukupuku #littlespottedkiwi #brookwaimaramasanctuary #nelson #thetopofthesouth #conservation #biodiversity #nativebirds #natureloversnz #newzealandwildlife #pestfree #ringfencedsanctuary #conservationinaction
Jan 29
🎻 45 min string quartet concert at Brook Waimārama Sanctuary
Come and hear a dynamic young string quartet perform a 45 min concert at Brook Waimārama Sanctuary. We welcome everyone to come along, and bring anyone you think might be curious to hear some classical music in a relaxed environment.
The @antipodes.quartet is part of the Fellowship Ensemble Programme, a joint venture between the @adamchambermusicfestival, @newzealandstringquartet and @chambermusicnz, as a career-development experience offered to four of this country’s most promising young string players.
The Antipodes Quartet are Eden Annesley (violin), Mana Waiariki (violin), Tal Amoore (viola) and Lavinnia Rae (cello).
On this occasion, Brook Waimārama Sanctuary are welcoming everyone at local prices: Adult $15, Child $9; Family $35 (on the door)
Find out more: (Link in bio)
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #NelsonNZ #Whakatū #WhatsonNelson #NelsonTasman #LiveMusicNZ #ChamberMusicNZ #StringQuartet #ClassicalMusicNZ #AdamChamberMusicFestival #NewZealandStringQuartet #ChamberMusicNewZealand #FamilyFriendly #NatureAndCulture #SupportLocalArts
Jan 27
2026 Bug of the year is here!
The lesser known cousin to bird of the year has come around(wait till they hear about fish or fungus of the year). This showdown aims to highlight the critters that go underappreciated compared to celebrity species like kākāpō. We would like to highlight the strange and wonderful species that occur within the Sanctuary, with the hopes to earn your vote!
Kahuwai | Black Tunnelweb Spider
Porrhothele antipodiana
I have a mixed history with this incredible spider. One hairy individual decided that my jersey pocket was a great place to set up shop. It received a rude awakening upon the home invasion of my unaware hand. Its brilliant fangs pierced and invenomated my finger, and despite the swelling and the shock and the pain… I couldn’t help but feel bad for evicting the guy. Its hobbit-like hole dwelling nature led the spider to my soft, warm pocket. Ironically, but not surprisingly, this species was the inspiration for Peter Jackson’s ‘Shelob’ in the Lord of the Rings films.
Kahuwai, the black tunnelweb spider, forms dense sheets of silk surrounding their tunnels. These sheets are monitored by the spider, who detects vibrations of a passer by. Wētā, land hoppers and any other unlucky invertebrate. The kahuwai swiftly grabs its prey and drags it into the depths. This spider however is also the victim of the endemic golden hunter wasp, who paralyses the spider before dragging it into the wasp’s nest (talk about shoes on the other foot!) and laying an egg beside it. The spider then becomes baby formula.
Despite the bite, this amazing spider has my vote! Check out the New Zealand Bug Of the Year 2026 website! Voting closes on the 16th of February!
Photo: @henry._.hart (in the second image of Shelob`s lair you can see a giant pill millipede has fallen victim...)
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #BugOfTheYear
Jan 25
2026 Bug of the year is here!
The lesser known cousin to bird of the year has come around(wait till they hear about fish or fungus of the year). This showdown aims to highlight the critters that go underappreciated compared to celebrity species like kākāpō. We would like to highlight the strange and wonderful species that occur within the Sanctuary, with the hopes to earn your vote!
This candidate is the beautifully disguised Rō, the Two-Spined Stick Insect. Micrachus hystriculeus is endemic to central Aotearoa, most common from Nelson, through Marlborough and Wellington. Stick insects display a classic example of crypsis. That is, their behaviour and physiology work in tandem to remain completely undetected and unharmed. They feed on leaves high in the canopy of trees like kānuka. At night you can often spot them, usually with the small males riding on the backs of the much larger females.
All modern New Zealand stick insects are the relatives of two colonisation events from New Caledonia around 30 million years ago. They radiated into nine separate genera and dispersed into coastal, lowland and subalpine ecosystems throughout the motu. This species, alongside at least five other stick insect species, live out their slow and sticky lives within the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary.
Will you vote for Micrachus hystriculeus? Check out the New Zealand Bug Of the Year 2026 website! Voting closes on the 16th of February!
Stay tuned for our last candidate…
Photo: Saryu Mae - @invertebratist
#BrookWaimāramaSanctuary #BugOfTheYear
Jan 24
