 The first factor in the decline of the kakapo was the arrival of humans . Māori folklore suggests that the kakapo was found throughout the country when the Polynesians first arrived in Aotearoa 700 years ago . Subfossil and midden deposits show that the bird was present throughout the North Island , South Island and Stewart Island / Rakiura before and during early Māori times . Māori hunted the kakapo for food and for their skins and feathers , which were made into cloaks . They used the dried heads as ear ornaments . Due to its flightlessness , strong scent and habit of freezing when threatened , the kakapo was easy prey for the Māori and their dogs . Its eggs and chicks were also preyed upon by the Polynesian rat or kiore , which the Māori brought to New Zealand . Furthermore , the deliberate clearing of vegetation by Māori reduced the habitable range for kakapo . Although the kakapo was extinct in many parts of the islands by the time Europeans arrived , including the Tararua and Aorangi Ranges , it was still present in the central part of the North Island and forested parts of the South Island . 
 The first factor in the decline of the kakapo was the arrival of humans . Māori folklore <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>suggests</mark></a> that the kakapo was found throughout the country when the Polynesians first<a href='been_done' title='2'><mark></mark></a> arrived in Aotearoa 700 years ago . Subfossil and midden deposits show that the bird was present throughout the North Island , South Island and Stewart Island / Rakiura before and during early Māori times . Māori hunted the kakapo for food and for their skins and feathers , which <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> made into cloaks . They used the dried heads as ear ornaments . Due to its flightlessness , strong scent and habit of freezing when threatened , the kakapo was easy prey for the Māori and their dogs . Its eggs and chicks <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> also preyed upon by the Polynesian rat or kiore , which the Māori brought to New Zealand . Furthermore , the deliberate clearing of vegetation by Māori reduced the habitable range for kakapo . Although the kakapo was extinct in many parts of the islands by the time Europeans arrived , including the Tararua and Aorangi Ranges , it was still present in the central part of the North Island and forested parts of the South Island . 
The first factor in da decline of tdakakapo was the arrival of humans . Māori folklore suggest dat thdaakapo was found throughout the country when the Polynesians first done arrived in Aotearoa 700 years ago . Subfossil and midden deposits show tdatthedard was present throughout the dath Island , South Island and Stewart Island / Rakiura before and durin early Māori times . Māori hunted the kakapo fir food and for their skins and feathers , which was made into cloaks . They used the dried heads as ear ornaments . Due to its flightlessness , strong scent and habit of freezing when threatened , the kakapo was easy prey for the Māori and their dogs . Its eggs and chicks was also preyed upon by the Pdanesian rat or kiore , which the Māda brought to New Zealand . Furthermore , the deliberate clearing of vegetation by Māori reduced the habitable range for kakapo . Although the kakapo was extinct in many parts of the isldas by the time Europeans arrived , including the Tarada and Aorangi Ranges , it was still present in the central part of the North Island and forested parts of the South Island .