The Black Robin - A Chatham Island Story

If the rarest bird in the world can be rescued, then — given human determination and effort — no species need become extinct.

– Don Merton

I remember the nerves that came over them once they realised that they had that real black robin in their hands. Those guys changed, knowing what they were entrusted with and what was ahead of them ... Once they had that box with the bird in it, and secured it on his pack, he was just a different person. It was the awesome responsibility of getting that precious bird down that cliff and across.

– Cameraman Paul Donovan on transferring a rare black robin down a 200-metre cliff, en route to Mangere Island, in 1988 book Wild South: Saving New Zealand’s Endangered Birds, page 164

The film seemed to capture people's imaginations. We were frequently asked what was happening to the black robins ...

– Authors Rod Morris and Hal Smith on reaction to Seven Black Robins, in 1988 book Wild South: Saving New Zealand's Endangered Birds, page 166

It wasn't easy getting up the 200-metre cliff face with television camera, assorted lenses, tripod and sound recording gear ... one jutting rock ledge required that the climber let go of any rope and hold on to the overhanging shelf while edging around it, and the rock was so unstable that it looked as if it might break off (and bits often did).

– Authors Rod Morris and Hal Smith on filming on Little Mangere Island, in 1988 book Wild South: Saving New Zealand's Endangered Birds, page 163