The pioneering research that helped save the North Island kōkako from extinction is the subject of a new documentary coming to Ōpōtiki later this month, bringing to the screen the stories of the researchers and conservationists behind one of Aotearoa’s great conservation achievements.

The Song They Saved captures the challenges, discoveries and unexpected moments of those early conservation efforts through interviews with the people involved and photographs from their personal archives.

Much of the pioneering research took place in the Bay of Plenty, making the documentary particularly relevant to the region.

The film was initiated by the Kōkako Ecosystem Expansion Programme (KEEP), after researcher John Innes shared stories from the early studies at a regional kōkako hui last year.

Recognising the importance of preserving those recollections while the people involved were still available to tell them, KEEP set out to record their experiences and bring together photographs documenting the work.

The lessons from those early years went on to influence the way threatened species are managed in mainland forests, demonstrating what could be achieved through research, persistence and collaboration.

Today, KEEP is working on the next chapter of kōkako conservation, bringing together iwi, landowners, conservation groups and other organisations to protect and reconnect forest habitats across the Bay of Plenty.

Its long-term goal is to enable isolated kōkako populations to move between forests, find mates and establish new territories, helping strengthen their genetic diversity.

The documentary will have its public premiere at the Capitol Theatre in Te Puke on Friday, November 13, before coming to the De Luxe Theatre in Ōpōtiki on Monday, November 23.

The Ōpōtiki screening begins at 6.30pm, with the film running for approximately 90 minutes.

Tickets are available through Humanitix from $15, with additional contributions supporting KEEP’s ongoing conservation work.

More information about the documentary is available at keep.org.nz/documentary, with tickets at events.humanitix.com/opotiki-the-song-they-saved.