It utilises most habitats, including forests, grasslands, scrub, inland and coastal wetlands and even semi-urban environments. It is omnivorous, taking mostly fruit and invertebrates, but also vertebrates (Marchant and Higgins 1993, Beauchamp et al. 1999). Birds breed in their first year and eggs are laid year-round (Bramley and Veltman 2000).

Gallirallus australis is endemic to New Zealand. Subspecies greyi is mostly restricted to the east coast of the North Island; it experienced significant declines and local extinctions from the 1900s, and the remnant population underwent a significant decline after the early 1980s, falling to c.4,000 birds (Beauchamp et al. 1999, D. King in litt. 1999, A. J. Beauchamp in litt. 2000, G. Bramley in litt. 2012). Several releases to former mainland habitats have been attempted, but most have been largely unsuccessful (Beauchamp et al. 1999) owing to high levels of predation. However, introduced populations at Russell and Kawakawa Bay, as well as the main remnant population on the east coast of the North Island between Motu and Opitiki, have all expanded and the total population size of this subspecies is now estimated at c.11,000 individuals (A. J. Beauchamp in litt. 2012). Nominate australis remains locally common in north and west South Island (Heather and Robertson 1997, Beauchamp et al. 1999), but numbers fluctuate dramatically, even in large populations (Beauchamp et al. 1999). In north-west Nelson, numbers plummeted by c.95% (A. J. Beauchamp in litt. 2000), in north Westland, counts indicate declines of over 90% in c.20 years (S. Bartle in litt. 2000), and declines were also noted in Fiordland. However, a number of reintroductions and predator control for the benefit of a number of threatened mainland species have led to recent increases in parts of the South Island (A. J. Beauchamp in litt. 2008), although predator control appears not be a major factor in facilitating such increases (G. Bramley in litt. 2012). Subspecies hectori is now extinct in its natural range, but was introduced to Chatham and Pitt Islands where it may number 38,000-58,000 birds (A. J. Beauchamp in litt. 2000), and survives a take of 5,000 birds annually (Beauchamp et al. 1999). Some individuals of this subspecies have been returned to islands on lakes in the South Island, with much success, and mainland releases have taken place, using predator fencing, although these have suffered heavy predation pressure even with intensive management (A. J. Beauchamp in litt. 2008, 2012, G. Bramley in litt. 2012). Subspecies scotti became extinct on Stewart Island in the 1990s (D. King in litt. 1999), but introduced populations survive on surrounding islands (Heather and Robertson 1997). Their total numbers are thought to be less than 8,000 and declining (A. J. Beauchamp in litt. 2008). Overall, the four races are present (many as introduced populations) on more than 70, mostly tiny, offshore islands (Beauchamp et al. 1999). Whilst there have been no major declines in the last ten years, future population crashes are predicted, as climate change is likely to increase the probability of such events occurring, and inbreeding depression remains a challenge (G. Bramley in litt. 2012).

Conservation Actions Underway
Further island translocations are planned (Beauchamp et al. 1999). Surveys of distribution and density are presently being completed in parts of the mainland range considered to be strongholds (D. King in litt. 1999, A. J. Beauchamp in litt. 2000).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct research on the impacts and management of threats (Beauchamp et al. 1999). Implement monitoring programmes in appropriate sites for all subspecies. Identify the most important threats affecting sites and instigate management programmes to address these. Establish further populations to ensure each subspecies has at least one large mainland population and three island population; select island sites carefully, as populations in wetter, less variable climates will be less susceptible to fluctuation (Beauchamp et al. 2009). Carry out long-term demographic studies of healthy populations to determine why they undergo catastrophic declines (G. Bramley in litt. 2012). Conduct genetic analysis to confirm the taxonomic status of the four subspecies, the origin of some island populations, and the genetic diversity of translocated and island populations (G. Bramley in litt. 2012).