Bird confirmed back in namesake town
Kākā have turned up in Kākā Point.
The native bird has come home to the hamlet which carries its name.
It was believed to be the first sighting of the bird in the small coastal town since early European times.
Retired teacher and Forest & Bird member Jim Young said there had been talk of the bird being spotted around the Catlins and South Otago over the past couple of months.
To confirm it, he managed to see one when he was in the Pounawea Camping Ground on Thursday, much to his surprise.
"I saw it there and thought maybe it was a wood pigeon. So I got 10m away, then 5m, and it didn't move and I realised it was a kākā. It was eating fruit from a tōtara tree, loving it," he said.
A kākā pictured at Kākā Point this winter. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
"I could have got a bit closer. He was totally immersed in eating his fruit."
The bird, perhaps the same one, had also been sighted in Kākā Point, lapping up a couple of feeding stations put up by residents.
The kākā did not appear to have a tag so the bird might have flown up from somewhere like Stewart Island, he said.
Kākā Point was named after the bird and they, along with other bird life, were in their abundance about 150-200 years ago.
But as farm land grew and pests turned up, numbers plummeted.
Happily, they appeared to have returned, he said.
Kākā primarily feed on fruits, seeds, nectar and insects and should never be given nuts.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Bird confirmed back in namesake town
A kākā spotted in Pounawea. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Kākā have turned up in Kākā Point. The native bird has come home to the hamlet which carries its name. It was believed to be the first sighting of the bird in the small coastal town since early European times. Retired teacher and Forest & Bird member Jim Young said there had been talk of the bird being spotted around the Catlins and South Otago over the past couple of months. To confirm it, he managed to see one when he was in the Pounawea Camping Ground on Thursday, much to his surprise. "I saw it there and thought maybe it was a wood pigeon. So I got 10m away, then 5m, and it didn't move and I realised it was a kākā. It was eating fruit from a tōtara tree, loving it," he said. A kākā pictured at Kākā Point this winter. PHOTO: SUPPLIED "I could have got a bit closer. He was totally immersed in eating his fruit." The bird, perhaps the same one, had also been sighted in Kākā Point, lapping up a couple of feeding stations put up by residents. The kākā did not appear to have a tag so the bird might have flown up from somewhere like Stewart Island, he said. Kākā Point was named after the bird and they, along with other bird life, were in their abundance about 150-200 years ago. But as farm land grew and pests turned up, numbers plummeted. Happily, they appeared to have returned, he said. Kākā primarily feed on fruits, seeds, nectar and insects and should never be given nuts.
Otago Daily Times
09-08-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Dedication to pest control recognised
Proud to receive the Forest & Bird Old Blue award are (from left) Ian (Mo) Turnbull, of Hāwea, Calvin Lloyd, of Dunedin, Jim Young and Jane Young, of the Catlins. PHOTO: SUPPLIED A Hāwea man, alongside a mighty team of volunteers, is continuing the fight for predator control in Makarora despite difficulties. Ian (Mo) Turnbull recently won the Forest & Bird Old Blue award for his dedication to protecting the region's native species, but he did not want to welcome this victory alone. He made it clear this was not an award for himself but one for a team of over 70 volunteers equally committed to the same goal. "Anything that I do that they thought was worth giving me a gong for is not done by one person, it's a whole team," he said. "There's hundreds of people out there doing the same sort of thing that I do." He had followed in the footsteps of his father who had built a home in Makarora during the 1950s and was also involved in predator control. Before moving to Hāwea in 2013, Mr Turnbull started his journey by possum trapping on a block of land on the Otago Peninsula in 1993. His more recent work had been mainly with the Central Otago branch of Forest & Bird and Southern Lakes Sanctuary, working with a large team of volunteers on a predator control programme in Makarora. "It's a very long-standing predator control programme at Makarora, and it's been getting bigger over the last few years, mainly because of the support that it gets." This has included setting up trap lines between the bushes or safely laying down poison to catch predators such as rats and stoats to protect native species including the mohua or yellowhead bird. The project is not an easy undertaking, with the growing team of volunteers having to cover large areas across Mt Aspiring National Park. "There's a lot of land out there that we can't get at," Mr Turnbull said. "But in areas where the team have been doing a lot of very intensive work with trap grids and poison bait station grids, we are seeing very good results." Although the use of poisons such as 1080 was not preferable, it was necessary to cover mass amounts of land. Scale was a recurring issue, which was not easy to tackle with limited funding and manpower, but Mr Turnbull was not ready to give up. "We're just getting more and more stuck in and doing more and more work," he said.
NZ Herald
08-08-2025
- NZ Herald
Central Hawke's Bay recognises community champions at civic awards
'Recognising Pat Gallagher, Dennis Schaw and Dr Roger Maaka is a huge privilege as we mark their place formally in the story of our community.' Maaka, who spent 20 years in the New Zealand Army, was recognised for his outstanding lifetime contribution to the wellbeing and advancement of the community, his iwi, and country. Maaka was a member of the Waitangi Tribunal for more than 15 years. As Dean of Te Ūranga Waka, the Faculty of Māori Studies at EIT, he was named EIT's first Emeritus Professor - a rare honour. He was instrumental in the transition of partnership and relationships between mana whenua and the CHB District Council. He served as the Kaiarāhi Mātua and led the development of council's Tūhono mai tūhono atu, the first Māori Engagement Strategy. Schaw has had a wide-ranging impact across sport, heritage, youth development, and community story telling. His volunteering began in his teens and continues to this day. A tireless champion of cricket and rugby, he has served as a player, coach, manager, and administrator. Schaw is the co-founder alongside Ian Cookson and the public face of OngaTV, a grassroots digital platform launched to document and celebrate the region's people, history, and events. Gallagher was recognised for his tireless contributions across a wide range of community sectors, education, sport, infrastructure, local governance, and civic wellbeing. He was instrumental in the Waipawa Kindergarten's establishment, serving as its first chairman and later chair of the CHB Kindergarten Association. He played key roles in establishing a local apple-packing facility, and supported community safety through Waipawa's Night Patrols. Ongaonga Historical Society and Rotary River Pathways Trust honoured The Ongaonga Historical Society (OHS) has been recognised for its dedication to preserving and sharing the history of early European settlers in the Ongaonga township and CHB since its establishment in 1964. Over the past 60 years, the OHS has meticulously restored 13 buildings and artefacts at the open-air heritage park, Ongaonga Museum, and the adjacent Coles Factory. The Rotary River Pathways Trust was set up by the Waipukurau Rotary Club in 2013 and focuses on building and keeping recreational paths and trails, primarily along the Tukituki River. Their efforts have led to the creation of popular trails such as the Tukituki Trail and the Gum Tree Farm Mountain Bike Park, in collaboration with local and regional councils and volunteers. Four community groups honoured The Pōrangahau Catchment Group was recognised for its commitment to environmental sustainability and community engagement. As a sponsor of community events, they have provided native tree planting services, helping to raise substantial funds for the Hawke's Bay community. The Pōrangahau Catchment Group works hard for sustainability in the community. Ruahine Animal Rescue is a volunteer-led organisation committed to the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of abandoned and neglected animals in CHB. In 2024, the team successfully rehomed 67 animals, and by mid-2025, had already placed 68 animals into homes. Volunteer-led initiative Surfing for Farmers CHB was also recognised. It was launched in 2020 by Andy Lee and Jason Wyn-Harris during the height of the Hawke's Bay drought, recognising the mental and emotional toll on farmers. It provides local farmers with a much-needed break from the pressures of rural life through free surfing sessions, equipment, and barbecues — all in a relaxed, welcoming environment. The Winter Olympics Charitable Trust, led by Claire Wilson, has made significant contributions to the community over the past 15 years. Each year, the event supports different local organisations and the Hawke's Bay Rescue Helicopter. Community Service Awards Individual Community Services Awards on the night went to Marian Campbell, Roy Fraser, Glenda Houston, Jackie Lowry and Phillip Morris. Campbell was awarded for her contributions as chair of a trust overseeing the William Pike Challenge. Campbell secured funding to make the challenge free for everyone, and has also provided essential camping equipment for the programme. Fraser was recognised for his voluntary work in developing and maintaining the Tukituki Trail network. As the president of the Rotary River Pathways Trust Inc, Roy has raised substantial funding to support the growth and resilience of the trails. Houston's long-term dedication across various sectors gained her a community service award. She is a key member of Operation Cover Up (CHB), contributes to five to six dressage events each year, independently tackled a feral cat problem in Ōtāne, and is a treasurer and founding member of Ruahine Animal Rescue. Lowry was recognised for her service and compassionate efforts. After Cyclone Gabrielle, she took the initiative to lead an effective response, going beyond her role as co-lead and administrator at Epic Ministries. Her efforts were so impactful that Epic Ministries received further funding from the Red Cross Morris was awarded for more than 35 years of dedication to education and community work. He has taught at Terrace School and served as a resource teacher Māori at CHB College. He played a pivotal role in the Ngā Ara Tipuna Project and is chairman of the Ngā Ara Tipuna Operational Trust.
