Kōwhai arrived at the Kārearea Falcon Trust in 2019 as a juvenile after being struck by a vehicle while scavenging on the roadside. Young kārearea, having recently dispersed from their parents’ territory, can be vulnerable as they struggle to hunt live prey successfully and may take greater risks while seeking food.

She had suffered extensive injuries, including a broken pelvis, a shattered right hip socket, a broken wing, lacerations to her leg, and a broken beak.

After surviving the night at a local veterinary clinic, she was transferred to the Kārearea Falcon Trust for ongoing treatment and rehabilitation. Kōwhai spent eight weeks in intensive care with our then-Aviary Manager, Diana Dobson. Once she was stable, she was moved into the aviary to continue her rehabilitation. Despite making an incredible recovery, her injuries were too severe for her to be returned to the wild.

In 2020, as she reached sexual maturity, Kōwhai was paired with Tahi as part of the Trust's captive breeding programme. The pair formed a strong bond, and Kōwhai laid eggs over several breeding seasons. However, Tahi's permanent wing injury made it difficult for him to balance effectively during copulation, limiting the pair's ability to produce fertile eggs.

In 2026, Kōwhai is back on the “dating scene,” with our team in the early stages of preparations to introduce her to a male kārearea rescued from Tekapo.

PLATINUM -

GOLD - Chen Family, from Blenheim NZ (3rd year of adoption) -Yee Chen is one of our wonderful volunteers, thank you for your support Yee

SILVER - Oceania Healthcare Redwood, in Blenheim, NZ

BRONZE - Kelly McConville, from Auckland, NZ (2nd year of adoption)

SCHOOL -