Twenty-five years ago there were 458 known pairs of Kōkako, now their numbers have increased five-fold.
Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research senior scientist John Innes has been part of the drive to turn those numbers around.
He's devoted the last 44 years to protecting native birds and retires this week.
John joins Susana to talk about the pivotal discoveries that saved the Kōkako from extinction.
Kōkako. Photo: Supplied / Warren Butcher
