Human activities are destroying the natural world, leading to the extinction of animal and plant species at a terrifying rate.

Our actions threaten over one million species. And in New Zealand we have the highest proportion of threatened native species in the world, with more than 4000 at risk.

Some experts believe we are in the throes of the sixth mass extinction. In This Is How It Ends, a seven-part Stuff documentary series, Andrea Vance and Iain McGregor investigate the biodiversity crisis.

Almost half of New Zealand’s bird species are extinct, and 80 per of those remaining are threatened. Can we reverse the decline?

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WATCH EPISODE TWO:
NATIVE BIRDS

Hit play on the video to learn why so many of our native birds are in trouble.

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A hihi/stitchbird pictured at Bushy Park Tarapuruhi, near Whanganui.

A hihi/stitchbird pictured at Bushy Park Tarapuruhi, near Whanganui.

Kea play at Otira Gorge, West Coast.

Kea play at Otira Gorge, West Coast.

A morepork/ruru being cared for at Christchurch's South Island Wildlife Hospital.

A morepork/ruru being cared for at Christchurch's South Island Wildlife Hospital.

Kea are at risk of poisoning from lead flashing and nails found on old buildings.

Kea are at risk of poisoning from lead flashing and nails found on old buildings.

Once believed extinct, the takahē population has grown to just under 450 birds.

Once believed extinct, the takahē population has grown to just under 450 birds.

Item 1 of 5

A hihi/stitchbird pictured at Bushy Park Tarapuruhi, near Whanganui.

A hihi/stitchbird pictured at Bushy Park Tarapuruhi, near Whanganui.

Kea play at Otira Gorge, West Coast.

Kea play at Otira Gorge, West Coast.

A morepork/ruru being cared for at Christchurch's South Island Wildlife Hospital.

A morepork/ruru being cared for at Christchurch's South Island Wildlife Hospital.

Kea are at risk of poisoning from lead flashing and nails found on old buildings.

Kea are at risk of poisoning from lead flashing and nails found on old buildings.

Once believed extinct, the takahē population has grown to just under 450 birds.

Once believed extinct, the takahē population has grown to just under 450 birds.

A hihi/stitchbird pictured at Bushy Park Tarapuruhi, near Whanganui.

A hihi/stitchbird pictured at Bushy Park Tarapuruhi, near Whanganui.

Kea play at Otira Gorge, West Coast.

Kea play at Otira Gorge, West Coast.

A morepork/ruru being cared for at Christchurch's South Island Wildlife Hospital.

A morepork/ruru being cared for at Christchurch's South Island Wildlife Hospital.

Kea are at risk of poisoning from lead flashing and nails found on old buildings.

Kea are at risk of poisoning from lead flashing and nails found on old buildings.

Once believed extinct, the takahē population has grown to just under 450 birds.

Once believed extinct, the takahē population has grown to just under 450 birds.

Item 1 of 5

A hihi/stitchbird pictured at Bushy Park Tarapuruhi, near Whanganui.

A hihi/stitchbird pictured at Bushy Park Tarapuruhi, near Whanganui.

Kea play at Otira Gorge, West Coast.

Kea play at Otira Gorge, West Coast.

A morepork/ruru being cared for at Christchurch's South Island Wildlife Hospital.

A morepork/ruru being cared for at Christchurch's South Island Wildlife Hospital.

Kea are at risk of poisoning from lead flashing and nails found on old buildings.

Kea are at risk of poisoning from lead flashing and nails found on old buildings.

Once believed extinct, the takahē population has grown to just under 450 birds.

Once believed extinct, the takahē population has grown to just under 450 birds.

The problem does seem really massive. It feels like you're not making much impact when you take the odd bird here and there, and put it back out in the wild, where all the threats still exist
Laura Young, Kea Conservation Trust

The kea population has declined dramatically, with perhaps as few as 3000 birds left.

The kea population has declined dramatically, with perhaps as few as 3000 birds left.

A 'burrito-ed' kea undergoes chelation treatment, which rids toxic lead from the blood.

A 'burrito-ed' kea undergoes chelation treatment, which rids toxic lead from the blood.

Laura Young, of the Kea Conservation Trust, takes samples from a bird caught in Arthur’s Pass Village.

Laura Young, of the Kea Conservation Trust, takes samples from a bird caught in Arthur’s Pass Village.

Predator control has seen forests birds return to Landsborough Valley.

Predator control has seen forests birds return to Landsborough Valley.

A takahē chick, about to be released into a pen at Burwood Takahē Recovery Centre.

A takahē chick, about to be released into a pen at Burwood Takahē Recovery Centre.

The takahē at Burwood have regular health checks, and are weighed and vaccinated.

The takahē at Burwood have regular health checks, and are weighed and vaccinated.

The goal is to return takahē to the wild.

The goal is to return takahē to the wild.

Item 1 of 7

The kea population has declined dramatically, with perhaps as few as 3000 birds left.

The kea population has declined dramatically, with perhaps as few as 3000 birds left.

A 'burrito-ed' kea undergoes chelation treatment, which rids toxic lead from the blood.

A 'burrito-ed' kea undergoes chelation treatment, which rids toxic lead from the blood.

Laura Young, of the Kea Conservation Trust, takes samples from a bird caught in Arthur’s Pass Village.

Laura Young, of the Kea Conservation Trust, takes samples from a bird caught in Arthur’s Pass Village.

Predator control has seen forests birds return to Landsborough Valley.

Predator control has seen forests birds return to Landsborough Valley.

A takahē chick, about to be released into a pen at Burwood Takahē Recovery Centre.

A takahē chick, about to be released into a pen at Burwood Takahē Recovery Centre.

The takahē at Burwood have regular health checks, and are weighed and vaccinated.

The takahē at Burwood have regular health checks, and are weighed and vaccinated.

The goal is to return takahē to the wild.

The goal is to return takahē to the wild.

Laura Young, of the Kea Conservation Trust, takes samples from a bird caught in Arthur’s Pass Village.

Laura Young, of the Kea Conservation Trust, takes samples from a bird caught in Arthur’s Pass Village.

The kea population has declined dramatically, with perhaps as few as 3000 birds left.

The kea population has declined dramatically, with perhaps as few as 3000 birds left.

A 'burrito-ed' kea undergoes chelation treatment, which rids toxic lead from the blood.

A 'burrito-ed' kea undergoes chelation treatment, which rids toxic lead from the blood.

Predator control has seen forests birds return to Landsborough Valley.

Predator control has seen forests birds return to Landsborough Valley.

A takahē chick, about to be released into a pen at Burwood Takahē Recovery Centre.

A takahē chick, about to be released into a pen at Burwood Takahē Recovery Centre.

The takahē at Burwood have regular health checks, and are weighed and vaccinated.

The takahē at Burwood have regular health checks, and are weighed and vaccinated.

The goal is to return takahē to the wild.

The goal is to return takahē to the wild.

Item 1 of 7

Laura Young, of the Kea Conservation Trust, takes samples from a bird caught in Arthur’s Pass Village.

Laura Young, of the Kea Conservation Trust, takes samples from a bird caught in Arthur’s Pass Village.

The kea population has declined dramatically, with perhaps as few as 3000 birds left.

The kea population has declined dramatically, with perhaps as few as 3000 birds left.

A 'burrito-ed' kea undergoes chelation treatment, which rids toxic lead from the blood.

A 'burrito-ed' kea undergoes chelation treatment, which rids toxic lead from the blood.

Predator control has seen forests birds return to Landsborough Valley.

Predator control has seen forests birds return to Landsborough Valley.

A takahē chick, about to be released into a pen at Burwood Takahē Recovery Centre.

A takahē chick, about to be released into a pen at Burwood Takahē Recovery Centre.

The takahē at Burwood have regular health checks, and are weighed and vaccinated.

The takahē at Burwood have regular health checks, and are weighed and vaccinated.

The goal is to return takahē to the wild.

The goal is to return takahē to the wild.

OTHER EPISODES

Episode 1

Seabirds

Watch
now

Episode 3

Oceans

Available
Oct 20
Watch
now

Episode 4

All creatures great and small

Available
Oct 22
Watch
now

Episode 5

Fresh Water

Available
Oct 26
Watch
now

Episode 6

The Endangered Forest

Available
Oct 27
Watch
now

Episode 7

The Islands

Available
Oct 28
Watch
now
Written, filmed, produced and directed by Iain McGregor and Andrea Vance
With extra special thanks to Herb Christophers and Colin O’Donnell, Department of Conservation
With thanks to Laura Young, Kea Conservation Trust; Lou Sanson, Department of Conservation; James Bohan, Lisa van Beek and Nichollette Brown, Burwood Takahē Breeding Centre; Mandy Brooke, Bushy Park Tarapuruhi; Melanie Mark-Shadbolt, Te Tira Whakamātaki; Mhairi McCready, Hihi Conservation Charitable Trust; Pauline Howard, South Island Wildlife Hospital; Phil Johnson, Toby Longbottom and Paula Penfold, Stuff Circuit
Additional footage supplied by Department of Conservation; John Innes, Landcare Research; Laura Young, Kea Conservation Trust
Title animation Ella Bates-Hermans
Design and layout Aaron Wood and Sungmi Kim
Development Sungmi Kim
Editor John Hartevelt
Executive editor and producer Bernadette Courtney
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