South Island fernbirds (Bowdleria punctata) (Figure 1) have been locally extinct in the Christchurch area since about 1898, however the Christchurch City Council (CCC) is currently exploring the possibility of reintroducing them to a number of sites around the city where habitat restoration and predator control measures are in place. Sites under consideration include the Bexley Wetlands, Travis Wetland, Styx Mill Conservation Reserve, Nga Puna Wai Reserve, Riccarton Bush, Brooklands Lagoon and the 80+ hectare area of saltmarsh at the mouth of the Styx/Puharakekenui River (Crossland pers comm. 2005), herein referred to as the Puharakekenui Wetlands. This reintroduction plan focuses on the establishment of a viable fernbird population at the Puharakekenui Wetlands. However this reintroduction event is set in the context of a city/region wide meta-population establishment program that may include some or all of the sites listed above, and also sites outside the CCC area such as, Quail Island (Norton et al. 2001) and Kaitorete Spit (Crossland pers comm 2005).

Although the problems associated with restoration of native bird communities are daunting, and especially so in mainland situations, it is exciting that such proposals are even being considered (Saunders 1995). Returning animals to the wild evokes an extremely positive response from almost all sectors of the community (Serena and Williams 1995), and therefore the reintroduction of fernbird back into the Christchurch area not only has conservation value for the species itself, but also heightens awareness of conservation values in general.