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Story: Tuatara

Releasing tuatara

Releasing tuatara

Tuatara were released on Wakaterepapanui Island, Marlborough Sounds, in 2004, to establish a wild population. These individuals were taken as eggs from nearby Stephens Island (Takapourewa), and incubated and hatched at Victoria University as part of a research programme. One interesting research finding is that incubation temperatures influence the sex of hatchlings – cool temperatures produce more females, warmer temperatures more males. They were set free on the island at four to five years old, as part of the island’s ecological restoration after rats were eradicated.

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Victoria University of Wellington

by Charles Daugherty

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How to cite this page

Charles Daugherty and Susan Keall, Tuatara – Decline and recovery, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/14995/releasing-tuatara (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Charles Daugherty and Susan Keall, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

Anonymous
05 April 2013
A tuatara was found in Whangapoua in 2012. It wasn’t until August 2013, after our Ngati Huarere elder lead his iwi to Wellington to Papawai celebrations of our great grandparents Hamiora Mangakahia and Mere Te Tai, their lives celebrated as chief and women’s suffragette, that Ruihana the tuatara reappeared and was happily caught with no trouble. He was taken to Auckland Zoo, where they said he would be DNA tested. He was returned to Cuvier Island. Reptile specialist, Richard. Auckland Zoo vet, Rob Chapell, Hauraki Gulf island ranger, Wanda Brylivech and myself walked up the awesome terrain. Rob stopped and showed us a lovely female tuatara sunning herself as we took pictures of her. It seemed right that he be here to live his life out. He was big and handsome, and yes I kissed him goodbye and put him down with a prayer and he just sat there looking at his new home. How comfy was that? I was soooo privileged I will never forget the awesomeness of the feeling he gave me though his skin: a sense of I’ve lived a long time and seen both sides of man and nature; leave me here, I'm happy now. So am I just blown away. Thanks nature!