Two of Aotearoa’s most endangered native species—Hamilton’s frog (pepeketua) and the white-bellied skink—are set to receive a critical conservation boost as the Government invests in breeding programmes aimed at preventing their extinction. The move comes as the species’ primary wild population has declined by around 80 per cent, placing one of the world’s most ancient frog species at increasing risk. Hamilton’s frog is classified as Threatened – Nationally Critical and survives naturally on only two islands in the Marlborough Sounds—Te Pākeka (Maud Island) and Takapourewa (Stephens Island). The species can live for up to 45 years, making it one of New Zealand’s most remarkable native amphibians. For Māori, many native species are regarded as taonga, carrying cultural, ecological and whakapapa significance.