The Wellington urban sanctuary helping to save endangered native birds like the kākā

More than 50 bird species have become extinct since humans arrived in New Zealand. The kākā is one of the few saved from extinction. (Supplied: Dinah Okeby and Alec McLean)

In Wellington, no one had seen the native North Island kākā parrot for a very long time.

Its distinctive rhythmic call and melodic whistles, once common in New Zealand's capital, were gone as well.