One of the significant priorities suggested in the AUDIT was that of 'long-term' priorities. Apart from long-term predator control programs there is absolutely no time, or scope, for long-term priorities. The Brown Teal population is in such a disastrous state that all priorities must be actioned in the short-term, i.e. immediately.

The 'Audit' also suggested that attempts to establish a new teal population at South Okarito in the South Island, where a predator control program is in operation to protect Kiwi and other rare birds in the area, but whilst this area would seem to represent an excellent site for a major release of captive reared Brown Teal any 'trial' release of teal at Okarito (and other suitable sites) should not be at the expense of propping up/increasing the Northland population, with captive reared teal.

Far greater Brown Teal management emphasis also needs to be placed at the Mimiwhangata Farm Park, a 380 hectare Department of Conservation property near Whangarei in Northland. A property where two large lagoons and over twenty small farm ponds have been created specifically for Brown Teal. Mimiwhangata was originally meant to be the 'model' for Brown Teal recovery/management in Northland, and elsewhere.

In the mid-1990's a major predator control was introduced at Mimiwhangata and operated for two year; during which time the teal population rose from a few birds to over one hundred. Then the program was stopped, no doubt due to lack of funding, and the teal population rapidly plummeted down to a few birds.

At least two other Brown Teal sites in Northland should be given intensive habitat and predator control management. In addition there are numerous sites in Northland, which are not hunted, and at which voluntary predator control work could be carried out by enthusiastic farmers.

In 1995, and later, it was agreed that the defunct Parekura Bay roost site should be predator controlled and that captive reared teal should be released there.
It was also recommended that the Purerua Peninsula site, near Kerikeri, (7 hectare lagoon with numerous adjacent farm ponds - and potential for more - and very large mangrove swamps) and where good numbers of teal were released in the late 1980's, should be further investigated.
At the height of the release program at Purerua numerous reports were filed regarding numerous sightings regular reports from Kerikeri, and from the farm manager, about Brown Teal being seen in good numbers throughout the district.
In 1995, at a major Brown Teal policy/management meeting it was also decided that - at least two Brown Teal sites in Northland should be predator controlled and that these sites should be used to establish Brown Teal populations. At that 1995 meeting the QEII National Trust representative stated that he had uncovered a number of suitable Brown Teal sites in Northland - where shooting was not allowed, and where the landowners were prepared to carry out a predator control program.

In 1984 when the release program moved to Northland the philosophy was to prop-up, stabilise and eventually increase the population, but input from not-too experienced Dept of Conservation personnel has resulted in most of these earlier, and seemingly logical proposals, being ignored.
The fact that Brown Teal still persist in Northland, and that there is still lots of quality estuarine Brown Teal habitat, must not be overlooked and the search for 'new' sites elsewhere in New Zealand is believed to be premature and could well be detrimental to the Northland population - and to the very survival of the species.

At Teal Bay, near Whangarei in Northland, a highly successful flock site has continued to support a sizable flock of teal since anyone can remember. Yet it is adjacent to a large area full of weekend holiday homes. Until recently no predator control has taken place and yet the teal persist in large numbers. WHY? The AUDIT recommended that the 1996 version of Brown Teal Recovery Plan be rewritten and updated, with clear and achievable short-term objectives, a recovery plan which spells out the role of captive breeding and sites timetabled for teal releases; plus ongoing communication between all parties. And completed by November 2001. Sadly, at the time of finalizing this manual none of these recommendations had been implemented.

If we briefly revisit the 1996 Recovery Plan the National Conservation Goal for Brown Teal was:
To maintain Brown Teal in the wild state on the mainland and islands of the New Zealand region in sufficient numbers and at sufficient secure locations so that it has a conservation status on "non-threatened" based on IUCN criteria Certainly an admirable goal, but one which was not well read!

Other admirable objectives in the 1996 Plan were:
1. To maintain the current numbers of Brown Teal on Great Barrier Island
2. Two maintain a viable breeding population of Brown Teal (based on existing
wild birds) at a minimum of two locations on the mainland of Northland
3. To establish new breeding populations (of ten or more pairs) of Brown Teal on
at least five further islands
4. To initiate, by a variety of means, the establishment of new Brown Teal populations
at a minimum of five locations on the New Zealand mainland
There were other goals, including captive breeding, but the goals 1-4 show just how far backwards the project has gone since 1996, and rather than inventing new goals let's implement those already documented.

SUMMARY & POINTS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION

• Brown teal have many unique values; their aggressive/murderous attitude, courtship, copulation, egg size, clutch size, parenthood and male attentiveness, feeding, climbing, nocturnal habits, flocking, moulting and a monogamous relationship. All of which place the species in a class of its own - a truly unique, interesting and wonderful species of dabbling duck. Correctly classified by Peter Scott in 1958 as an ancient and primitive form of duck, and confirmed by Trevor Worthy's fossil research data, and a species which has existed in New Zealand for over 10,000 years.
• Historically Brown Teal were found in every area of New Zealand, but the population began to steadily decline in the early 1900's, but through excessive shooting, introduced predators and habitat changes the decline gained momentum, and by the late 1980's there were no more than 2,500 surviving in the wild.
• For a brief period in the late 1980's it looked as though some progress was being made to stem the decline.
• Between 1990 and 2001 the wild NZ Brown Teal Anas chlorotis population plummeted to a level where the expected time of extinction of the species is 2004 on the New Zealand mainland and 2015 on Great Barrier Island.
• Between 1990 and 2001 the captive population of Brown Teal plummeted from c120 birds to c40 birds.
• The Brown Teal is now the world's second most endangered duck species.
• Such a unique species must not be allowed to decline further, either in the wild or in captivity. The extinction of the Brown Teal would be a sad indictment on New Zealand and on its ability in the conservation arena.
• Handling of Brown Teal should be kept to an absolute minimum.
  
• The use of radio transmitters on Brown Teal should be kept to an absolute minimum until a formal study has been carried to determine whether Brown Teal fitted with radio transmitters are likely to suffer an early death because of the transmitter.
  
• Long term predator control programs at key Brown Teal sites and at sites where captive reared teal are to be released, suitable habitat, a suitable food supply, together with the application of all other waterfowl management techniques, including a major captive breeding program, are the key to ensuring the survival of Brown Teal.
  
• The target priorities for predators should be - feral cats, mustelids, harrier hawk, rats, eels, pukeko and dogs. Plus all other species that impinge on Brown Teal survival.
  
• A major captive breeding program must now be considered to be a vital/critically important part of the recovery program
• There are now some sound structures in place to turn the project around, but an intrinsic and long term desire, by the Department of Conservation's hierarchy, to save Brown Teal, together with a meaningful partnership between all involved, is essential.
  
• The mysterious and recently introduced 'disease factor' could, however, seriously impede the very survival of Brown Teal and the need for disease screening, incessant handling of Brown Teal and its stress inducing features of the whole exercise need to be carefully monitored and the value of such a process should be independently reviewed.
  
• Estuarine habitats are known to support a wealth of the all-important Brown Teal food - invertebrates - and these habitats must be placed high on the list of areas needing management and protection.
  
• Supplementary feeding and the use of prerelease aviaries may be critical to the survival of captive reared birds in the wild.
  
• The lack of substantial funding for the Brown Teal recovery program to be able to carry out vital predator control work is one of the key reasons why the project has failed so far.
  
• With such high productivity potential in the captive propagation of Brown Teal, together with the adaptability of teal to survive in a protected environment, the recovery program for Brown Teal would seem to represent a relatively simple exercise, but one that demands dedicated long term input, together with regular reviews to determine the level of progress.
  
• Research into food and habitat requirements for teal, plus regular and intensive trend counts, must be top priority, as must a major advocacy program Although it is known that Brown Teal adapt well to quality dabbling duck habitat and estuarine habitat, particularly when such habitat is predator free.
  
• Captive waterfowl in a healthy, protected environment have proven to survive for many years, with 24 years being the record life span.
  
• Liaison with all interested groups must be a priority.
  
• Efforts to stabilise and eventually enlarge both the Northland and Great Barrier Brown Teal populations must be pursued with vigour.
  
• A major review of the entire recovery program should be carried out no later than 2004.
  
• Advocacy for Brown Teal must be a major priority for all involved in the Brown Teal recovery program - or 'SAVE THE BROWN TEAL PROGRAM