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Thirty-one North Island weka (Gallirallus australis greyi) were released on Pakatoa Island (26 ha), Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand in Aug 1996. The population then fluctuated between c.19 and 182 individuals, including c.6-55 pairs. The last of the translocated weka died between Jan and Jun 1998, during a drought and after the rodenticide Talon® was laid to kill Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus), and only weka <1 year old survived. Most young raised in Dec 2001-Jan 2002 died during a drought in Feb – Mar 2002. The weka population increased during a period of higher rainfall from mid-1998 to Dec 2001. The higher population resulted in smaller home ranges, higher frequencies of diurnal spacing calls, more aggressive behaviour, and a higher incidence of plumage damage. The large fluctuations in population size on Pakatoa I suggests that future translocations of weka should select islands with wetter and less variable rainfall patterns.