Episodes 47
Avg. Duration 23m
Activity Active
Apple Rating 4.9 (31)
Since Dec 2018
Latest Episode May 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Every 2 Weeks
Format
Serial
Consistency
65%
Hosting
www.rnz.co.nz

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

The Kākāpō Files podcast is back with what’s set to be the biggest breeding season of all time for the world’s favourite parrot. Monthly episodes from late May 2026.

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Recent Episodes

S2E17 Kākāpō Adoption Birds

May 18, 2026 39m

Half of the chicks from this record-breaking kākāpō breeding season have fledged and left their nests for good, but are still being fed by their mums. The tally of living chicks has dropped to 92…

S2E16 Kākāpō Chicks Growing Up

May 04, 2026 33m

The tally of confirmed living kākāpō chicks goes down with two further deaths, but gets a welcome boost with the confirmation of a living chick in a previously inaccessible nest. This brings the…

S2E15 Kākāpō Island Diary

Apr 20, 2026 36m

Alison Ballance spends a week on Whenua Hou/Codfish Island, one of three kākāpō breeding islands. She follows rangers from DOC’s Kākāpō Recovery Programme as they go about their daily and nightly…

S2E14 Biggest Kākāpō Breeding Season

Apr 02, 2026 33m

DOC’s Kākāpō Recovery Programme says that the 2026 kākāpō breeding season is officially the biggest on record, and that all chicks have now hatched. At least 256 eggs were laid in 80 nests, of which…

S2E13 Kākāpō Birth Notices

Mar 23, 2026 30m

DOC’s Kākāpō Recovery Programme is thrilled to announce the births of 101 kākāpō chicks, with a few more fertile eggs expected to hatch over the next few days. However, kākāpō conservation is a…

S2E12 Lots of Kākāpō Babies

Mar 09, 2026 31m

The number of kākāpō chicks has climbed to 54, with plenty more fertile eggs still to hatch on Whenua Hou and Pukenui/Anchor Island. Remote monitoring technology shows that seven kākāpō mums on Te…

S2E11 Kākāpō Baby Boom

Feb 23, 2026 21m

Fourteen kākāpō chicks have hatched in wild nests, where they are being cared for by mums and foster mums. More than a hundred viable fertile eggs have already been laid, with more expected in the…

S2E10 The First Chick

Feb 16, 2026 19m

The first chick of the 2026 kākāpō breeding season has successfully hatched on Pukenui/Anchor Island. DOC’s Kākāpō Recovery Programme reports that Tiwhiri-A1-2026 hatched in foster mother Yasmine’s…

S2E9 Nesting Time

Feb 09, 2026 9m

Almost 90% of adult female kākāpō of breeding age have mated so far this breeding season, and two thirds of those are nesting. Some birds have already laid a full clutch of eggs and while some…

S2E8 Peak Breeding

Feb 02, 2026 15m

More than three-quarters of female kākāpō of breeding age have mated so far, and the number of nests is growing rapidly. Kākāpō operations manager Deidre Vercoe tells Alison Ballance that 101 eggs…

S2E7 Full Steam Ahead

Jan 26, 2026 21m

The 2026 kākāpō breeding season is all systems go: nearly half of the females of breeding age have mated and so far 15 females are nesting. Technical Advisor Daryl Eason talks about record-breaking…

S2E6 Kākāpō Action Heating Up

Jan 19, 2026 16m

There have been 24 kākāpō matings so far, and the number is increasing as mating action heats up on all three breeding islands. Deidre Vercoe, from the Kākāpō Recovery Programme, tells Alison…

S2E5 The First Nest

Jan 12, 2026 21m

Early bird Pearl has laid the first eggs of the 2026 kākāpō breeding season but Kākāpō Recovery Programme science advisor Andrew Digby tells Alison Ballance that it’s too soon to know if they are…

S2E4 Any Minute Now

Jan 05, 2026 14m

It’s the New Year and we’re in the early days of a big kākāpō breeding season. Daryl Eason from the Kākāpō Team tells Alison Ballance that Esperance and Ian are the second kākāpō to mate, and he…

S2E3 Kākāpō Countdown

Dec 29, 2025 17m

It’s nearly the New Year and we’re counting down to the start of a big kākāpō breeding season. Island ranger Maddy Whittaker tells Alison Ballance that Pearl and Boss are the first kākāpō to mate.…

S2E2 Meet the Team

Dec 22, 2025 17m

It’s the summer solstice and we are waiting for kākāpō breeding to begin. Alison Ballance chats with island ranger Maddy Whittaker, who reports that on Whenua Hou/Codfish Island all the male kākāpō…

S2E1 The Birds Are Back

Dec 15, 2025 26m

The Kākāpō Files returns for a second season, to follow everyone’s favourite parrot through what is predicted to be the biggest breeding season on record. Host Alison Ballance and Our Changing…

S2 Introducing: Kākāpō Files II

Nov 26, 2025 0m Trailer

In 2019 Alison Ballance followed the bumpy, rollercoaster ride that was the kākāpō breeding season. Now she returns, six years on, to do it all over again. We'll meet familiar characters, of both the…

S1E28 Our Changing World: Kākāpō update with Dr Andrew Digby

Jul 31, 2024 41m Bonus

Claire Concannon and Dr Andrew Digby talk about all things kākāpō: that habitat trial and where the birds are now, the next breeding season, and Andrew’s hopes for the future of this iconic manu.  Go…

S1E27 Our Changing World: A year of mainland kākāpō

Jul 31, 2024 28m Bonus

In July 2023 four male kākāpō were released into the fenced Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari – part of a new habitat trial to investigate suitable locations for the growing kākāpō population. But…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Kākāpō Files II have?

Kākāpō Files II has published 47 episodes since December 2018, covering topics in Natural Sciences, Science.

Is Kākāpō Files II still active?

Kākāpō Files II is currently active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 23m.

How do I contact Kākāpō Files II for sponsorship or guest appearances?

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