Listed as near threatened by IUCN, this was the first endemic species to be introduced to Tiritiri Matangi. Starting in 1974 with 35 birds from a captive breeding program, the current population on the island is self-sustaining and estimated at several hundred. Formerly common on the main islands, it is now all but extinct on the North and South islands. Occasional main island records have been attributed to escaped cage birds or possibly dispersal from managed conservation sites. Taxonomy is complex with New Zealand populations assigned to the smaller nominate race. Three additional subspecies are limited to remote islands and three additional island endemic populations have been considered subspecies by some authors and full species by others.
