 Fossil records indicate that in pre @-@ Polynesian times , the kakapo was New Zealand 's third most common bird and it was widespread on all three main islands . However , the kakapo population in New Zealand has declined massively since human settlement of the country . Since 1891 , conservation efforts have been made to prevent extinction . The most successful scheme has been the Kakapo Recovery Programme ; this was implemented in 1989 and continues . 
 Fossil records indicate that in pre @-@ Polynesian times , the kakapo was New Zealand <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>third most common bird and it was widespread on all three main islands . However , the kakapo population in New Zealand <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>has</mark></a> declined massively since human settlement of the country . Since 1891 , conservation efforts <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>have</mark></a> been made to prevent extinction . The most successful scheme <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>has</mark></a> been the Kakapo Recovery Programme ; this was implemented in 1989 and <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>continues</mark></a> . 
Fossil records indicate that in pre @-@ Polynesian times , da kakapo was New Zealand  third most common bird and it was widespread on alll three main islands . However , the kakapo population in New Zealand done declined massively since human settlement of the country . Since 1891 , conservation efforts done been made to prevent extinction . The most successful scheme have been tdaKakapo Recovery Programme ; this was implemented in 1989 and continue .