as mahoe dominating. Members of the original flora that are missing from the site, or rare, include large podocarp species such as rimu, matai, miro, kahikatea, and totara, are being re-established. Northern rātā has also virtually disappeared from the valley and a number of seedlings have been planted. A wide variety of native trees, of benefit to native fauna, is already present including a mature colony of the New Zealand tree fuchsia, Fuchsia excorticata. Species Native birds that have been released in the sanctuary since 2000 include: Bellbird, New Zealand () (Anthornis melanura) Brown teal () (Anas chlorotis) (4 pair released 2000-11-03) Kākā, North Island (Nestor meridionalis) (3 released 2002-08-24) Kākāriki, red-fronted parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) (23 released 2010-July-02) Little spotted kiwi () (Apteryx owenii) (20 released 2000-07-04) Pigeon, New Zealand () (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) (10 released 2002 to 2005) Robin, North Island () (Petroica longipes) (40 released 2001-05-11) Saddleback, North Island () (Philesturnus rufusater) (39 released 2002-06-16) Scaup, New Zealand () (Aythya novaeseelandiae) (1 pair released 2002-05-03) Stitchbird () (Notiomystis cincta) (30 released 2005-02-17) Takahē, South Island (Porphyrio hochstetteri) (2 released 2011-01-28) Tomtit, North Island () (Petroica macrocephala toitoi) Weka, North Island (Gallirallus australis) (4 pair released 2000-06-16) Whitehead () (Mohoua ochrocephala) (released 2001, 2002) Rifleman () (Acanthisitta chloris) (60 birds released 2019) Other native animals that have been released since 2000 include: 70 tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus, from Stephens Island (released December 2005). 100 giant weta 21 Maud Island frogs (2006) Spotted skink (Oligosoma kokowai) (2016) 200 New Zealand freshwater mussel () (2018) Other native species that are naturalised without needing transfers from outside the area include: Birds Black shag () (Phalacrocorax carbo novaehollandiae) Fantail, North Island () (Rhipidura fulginosa placabilis) Falcon, New Zealand () (Falco novaeseelandiae) Grey warbler, New Zealand () (Gerygone igata) Little black shag () (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) Little shag () (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos brevirostris) Pied shag, New Zealand () (Phalacrocorax varius varius) Morepork () (Ninox novaeseelandiae) Silvereye () (Zosterops lateralis) Shining cuckoo () (Chrysococcyx lucidus lucidus) Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) Reptiles Raukawa gecko (Woodworthia maculata) Ngāhere gecko (Mokopirirakau aff. granulatus 'Southern North Island) Brown skink (Oligosoma zelandicum) Northern grass skink (Oligosoma polychroma) Copper skink (Oligosoma aeneum) Ornate skink (Oligosoma ornatum) Non-native species Perch'. In 2021 the water level in the lower reservoir was reduced by six metres to enable eradication of the introduced European perch which were eating native fish species and polluting the water with algal bloom. References External